April 19, 2022 1.00 pm This story is over 23 months old

South Holland leaders to give go ahead to “acceptable” street art proposals

Planning-style applications to be considered
Karl Barfoot submitted a petition to South Holland District Council for a specific area for street art to create an attraction for the town. | Image: Supplied

South Holland District Council leaders will be asked to give the ‘Van Gogh-ahead’ a new street art policy next week.

The new document, which has been piloted at the Castle Sports Complex, will seek to define the difference between acceptable street art and unacceptable graffiti in the district.

Now the authority’s cabinet will vote to give the Graffiti and Street Art Management policy the stamp of approval on Tuesday next week before it goes before Full Council.

The new rules follow a petition by graffiti artists Karl Barfoot and Adam Sadd last November which successfully asked for a designated area for street artists to use.

It will bring in a series of planning-style steps where applications for street art locations are made to South Holland District Council.

They include consultation with the local community, ward members and the parish or town council before being approved or rejected.

“The proposals contained within this report will improve the overall street scene and environment for our local places on behalf of our local communities,” said a report before the cabinet.

The council has laid out a series of “key considerations” for street art including whether it can be seen from public areas, whether it is offensive in nature (for example gang-related or racially, politically or religiously aggravating), whether the images are appropriate to the location and how many images are already present in the area.

Although the council can’t enforce compliance with the policy with private land owners, it is hoping to encourage co-operation.

The policy also lays out how the council will manage unwanted graffiti including prevention, enforcement and collaboration.