WEYMOUTH Town Council said it has 'no immediate plans' to remove the new graffiti artwork that has appeared on the promenade wall.

As reported, on Thursday morning residents spotted three stencilled street art pieces in the town.

Two are on privately-owned buildings, but the little boy making a sandcastle painted on the promenade, is on public land leased to the town council and owned by Dorset Council.

A spokesman for Weymouth Town Council said: "Technically the promenade is owned by Dorset Council but we are allowed to operate and manage it.

"We have no immediate plans to remove this particular piece of graffiti but, in general, we do not tolerate graffiti and take steps to remove it."

As reported, residents initially wondered whether the works had been painted by famed street artist Banksy. The work has been claimed by a street artist who goes by the name of Peachy, whose modus operandi is to bring a smile to people's faces on a trip to the seaside.

The efforts have been praised by town councillor Alex Fuhrmann, who is now encouraging local artists to come forward to take part in the town council's forthcoming mural trail project.

"I love that fact that these related pieces of artwork have had such a provoking reaction on residents," Cllr Fuhrmann said.

Dorset Echo:

"That’s the very essence of what art can do, positive or negative, to evoke discussion and reaction. People have obviously made the link to the Banksy style of street art, however Peachy does have his own distinctive style and should be credited with creating the conversation.

"It’s also a wonderful coincidence that this sparked debate on the same day that we set out our consultation for the mural trail in the town centre, where we received a bounty of positive feedback, both showing an appetite for artwork in Weymouth."

As reported, Weymouth Town Council, working in partnership with We Are Weymouth, is hoping to commission a group of artists to produce a 10-location street art trail in Weymouth.

Dorset Echo:

The authority hopes to enhance the visual appearance of existing buildings "by adding colour and excitement to blank spaces and increasing the footfall and economic benefit for local businesses following the pandemic."

The project will deliver a refreshed sense of excitement similarly seen in the Glasgow and Glastonbury mural trail projects and artist applications are now open.

If you would like to discuss the project in more detail, contact Ben Heath on 01305 239302 or email: benheath@weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk