September news

Paulsgrove subway arts project to be opened by Portsmouth North MP

The grand opening of a community arts project to improve and brighten up a subway in Northarbour Road, Paulsgrove, is being unveiled by Sarah McCarthy-Fry, MP for Portsmouth North, on Wednesday, September 10 at 2.15pm.

In the past the subway has been a victim of graffiti and so the idea behind this multi-agency project was to work together to tackle anti-social behaviour and to reduce the fear of crime.

Council Community Wardens and pupils from King Richard School led the project to create an art mural for the subway, by preparing panels to be installed on the walls of the subway, and local junior schools added finer details to the panels.

Other organisations that have been involved with the project include Colas and Clean City Services who gave permission to use the subway, the Probation Service arranged to clean and paint the area before work started and Highbury College installed the finished murals.

Kevin Evenett, Safer Portsmouth Partnership’s anti-social behaviour champion, said: “Anti-social behaviour is a key priority for the Safer Portsmouth Partnership; in order to tackle it I think this type of partnership working, involving young people and schoolchildren, is a great way of getting the local community to work together to create safer communities and ensure Portsmouth remains a safe place to live and visit.”

Date : 09 September 2008