Vandals target new Broad Marsh coach station entrance as residents say there's no respect

Nottingham residents have expressed their disappointment after an entrance to the Broad Marsh coach station was covered with graffiti. The development opened just two years ago, in June 2022.

The station operates around 400 services a week to destinations including London, Birmingham, Cardiff, and Glasgow, as well as major airports such as Heathrow. Some Trent Barton services also operate from the station.

The bus station is located below the Broad Marsh car park, also accessible through the vandalised Sussex Street entrance. Residents have said they would rather see a professionally painted mural replace the "random writings".

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Laura Buttle, 27, said: "It doesn't look very nice. I'd rather see a nice mural, rather than a plain grey wall. I think some colour could be added. Maybe something similar to what they have on the pillars with all the green."

Daniel Boateng, 19, added: "I think it's a bit disrespectful, definitely. A professionally done mural is more pleasant to see than some random writings."

James Hubbard, 46, explained that the drywall inside the station has also been vandalised and that the wall outside would look "better" with something "more artistic".

This was echoed by another resident, Lou, who didn't wish to share her last name. She said: "I like the graffiti that they have nearby so as long as it's done professionally, I don't mind it. I'm not sure how long those writings have been here."

People have also expressed their anger regarding the graffiti in a Facebook community group. User Brian Brown said: "What else do you expect in this day and age, there's no respect for property, they don't respect themselves."

Another user, John Crampton, said: "I hate seeing this. When caught, [they] should be made to scrub it off with a toothbrush. It's getting worse and [the issue] needs clamping down on it."

Lisa Garten, 45, disagreed, however, and said: "I wouldn't consider this vandalism. I'd class it as art, who says it's vandalism? Something more colourful would be nice to brighten it up a bit though."

A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: "The introduction of the basketball and skate area at Sussex Street has been a huge success and it’s great to see so many young people spending time here with their friends. The council teamed up with local street artists to decorate the space and feel this has worked really well, so much so that we’re currently looking into the possibility of more here to be included in a street-art festival in the autumn.

"This has largely prevented graffiti ‘tagging’ but we are aware of some which has recently gone up close to the bus station and car park entrance. Our cleaning crews are currently arranging for this to be removed and we’d urge people not to target this area in the future."