Beloved A3 roundabout mural 'wiped off overnight' in act of 'cultural vandalism'

People have said they are 'disappointed' after Transport for London (TfL) wiped off a beloved mural from a subway under an A3 roundabout.

The 'Triassic Tolworth Aquarium' mural was commissioned by not-for-profit organisation We Are Community Brain and painted by artist WeAreSkyHigh on the walls of a subway under Tolworth Roundabout, on the A3 in Surbiton, in 2022.

Robin Hutchinson, director of The Community Brain, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was 'absolutely flabbergasted' on Tuesday (April 23) when he found the mural of the prehistoric underwater scene had been 'cleaned off' by TfL. He said seeing it had been removed was 'horrendous'.

TfL told the LDRS it removed the mural after a section became 'covered with graffiti, some of it offensive'. The authority said it will meet community representatives next week to discuss the possibility of replacing it.

The mural was the fourth to be unveiled by The Community Brain and WeAreSkyHigh at subways under Tolworth Roundabout. The artwork included a mural of David Bowie to mark his first performance as his iconic Ziggy Stardust persona at former pub Toby Jug in Tolworth in 1972.

Mr Hutchinson said the area lost this 'astonishing piece of artwork' after the subway was closed by TfL last year as part of ongoing works at the junction. The two other murals feature creatures that can be found at Tolworth Court Farm Fields nature reserve.

Mr Hutchinson described TfL's removal of the 'Triassic Tolworth Aquarium' mural as 'cultural vandalism'. He said: "Tolworth Roundabout and the artwork that we've put on it has had people visiting it. I can tell you straightaway if four years ago you'd have said Tolworth Roundabout would become a visitor attraction you'd have been laughed at and, actually, particularly because of the Bowie mural, people were travelling great distances to come to a roundabout to appreciate the art."

"It's our belief that the way you get pride in place is to make these little moments that the local community can celebrate and feel proud of. I'm afraid TfL has just ridden roughshod over the local community."

Residents told the LDRS they were 'disappointed' the mural had been removed. Jeanette Langston, 56, said the walls now looked 'horrible and dirty' and she 'would definitely like to see it back'. She added: "I was really disappointed that it was taken away. It just disappeared overnight. I don't know if it's been jet washed off or if they're going to replace it with anything nice, but it did cheer up a dreary underpass."

Julie Cottrell, 72, described the removal of the mural as a 'shame' and questioned whether further steps could have been taken before it was completely wiped off. She said: "It's just nicer to have something, isn't it, to try and cheer up the environment... why they decided to get rid of it I don't know because I didn't think the graffiti had totally taken over. Maybe it wasn't possible to clean that off without [removing all of it]."

Keith, 53, who did not wish to give his surname, added he often walks through the subway and would like to see the mural replaced as he would welcome 'anything to cheer Tolworth up'.

The Community Brain is set to meet with TfL next week to discuss next steps. Mr Hutchinson told the LDRS: "What I would really love is for TfL to... see what we've been doing and then understand that actually if they work hand-in-hand with communities, as opposed to in a high-handed way, then actually more will be achieved and maybe they need to support us in putting some of these murals back."

A TfL spokesperson said: "We always seek to work with local communities to ensure our network is welcoming and inclusive. Sadly, one section of the mural in this underpass had become covered with graffiti, some of it offensive."

"We always work to remove graffiti as soon as possible and unfortunately it was not possible to remove it without further damaging the mural. We have reached out to representatives of the local community and are meeting them next week to discuss any proposed replacement."

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