Out on the Streets: Chippenham's new public art

PAC Mural on the side of Buckles Fish & Chip shop depicting a canalside scene

There's been quite a buzz around the bus station recently with a new mural painted on the side of the chip shop nearby. It's courtesy of a new charity, Public Art Chippenham aka PAC who are championing the brightening of our neighbourhood, and what a cracking start they've made.

The canalside scene is a nod to the site's previous incarnation as the town's wharf on the Wilts and Berks canal. You can guess the reason for the fish! Here we have Ed - aka @edposter1 on Insta -  putting the final touches to his masterpiece. He was happy to chat to us and the dozens of others who've stopped by to see his work in progress.

PAC have asked us for our ideas on what we'd like to see and suggestions for places that could merit a makeover. I've suggested a few places, especially the old Westinghouse industrial site* which is currently undergoing a transformation into a new residential area in the heart of town. It would be good to have a physical link to the site's past in a more solid form such as a sculpture. I've also mentioned the work I did with the History Centre a while ago on the public art we have in place already and sent them a link to the map I've put together which shows my discoveries thus far; it now includes this one.

This is just the start and there's the promise of much more to come. Judging by PAC's Trustees we have the right talented and experienced people in place to make it happen 👏

Watch this space!

* the company - now part of Siemens - is moving to a new purpose built site on Chippenham's southern outskirts

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