Local residents and their children joined representatives from Raglan Housing, Sedgemoor District Council, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and artist Andrew Bolton this week to unveil a 22-metre community mural at the opening of a new housing complex.
The artwork was launched during the official opening of Raglan’s new development of 117 homes for affordable rent in Springfield Road, Highbridge.
Raglan commissioned artist Andrew Bolton to create the mural from ideas generated by Springfield Road residents and children at nearby Churchfield Primary School.
The artist worked with the children to produce the drawings which were made during a series of workshops arranged with the school. The artwork has been installed on the wall of a three-storey development of affordable flats which can be seen from Church Street along the A38 into Highbridge.
“The mural combines children’s drawings with images of the same children using the play equipment installed at the scheme. It also has references to Highbridge’s history – a steam roller and a ‘Tom Putt’ apple – also relevant for the nearby Orchard Pond,” Andrew told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“I really enjoyed working with everyone and the welcome I got from the residents of the development was one of the best I’ve ever had!”
Raglan contributes one per cent of the total build cost of its affordable housing developments to public art. Last year the housing association also donated £8,000 towards the cost of Highbridge’s new town clock which was unveiled as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
“We hope this fantastic and vibrant new mural will be enjoyed by the entire Springfield Road community,” added Richard Stevenson, Raglan’s Business Development Director. “It’s been a truly collaborative art project involving residents, members of the community and local children in its design, planning and creation – they should all be extremely proud of their work!”
Raglan worked closely with Sedgemoor District Council and Mansell Partnership Housing to deliver the smart new Springfield Road development of energy-efficient homes for affordable rent.
Pictured: New community mural marks official opening of Raglan’s new affordable housing development in Springfield Road, Highbridge (L-R back row:) Asad Butt, Area Manager, Homes and Communities Agency; Richard Stevenson, Raglan Business Development Director; Artist Andrew Bolton and Duncan Harvey, Affordable Housing Policy and Development Manager for Sedgemoor District Council. Front row (L-R:) Robbie (12) and Ivan (6) Bolton.
