Street Art or Vandalism ?

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York Greenways recent project at the York end of the Trans Pennine Trail has received very positive response. This is not always the case and the debate about graffiti has a long history on this end of the Solar System Greenway.

It started back in 1985, when Sustrans were converting the old East Coast Main Line to a cycle path, CEO John Grimshaw deliberately created  BMX “bumps” in the A64 underpass near Bishopthorpe. It was understood that graffiti on the expanse of concrete walls would inevitably follow – as it has for the past 40 years.

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​​​​Early artists occasionally attracted the wrath of local residents and the Community Police would be called in. Sustrans responded by handing out a letter on headed paper stating that Sustrans had no objection to graffiti and the ‘artists’ should be left alone. When, a year later, a tippexed copy of this letter was used in court in West London by a youth who had graffitied an underground train the letter fell into disrepute.

It also transpired that the actual underpass did not belong to Sustrans but to the Highways Agency who managed the Highway above. They were less welcoming to the artists efforts and would occasionally cover all the art up with a grey concrete wash. This blank canvas was gratefully re-covered with new work by the the artists.

York City Council had no more authority over the underpass than Sustrans but nevertheless it got caught up in a short-lived ‘zero-tolerance’ policy instituted by a zealous councillor and Community Payback were from time to time called in to cover up any fresh work.

Frustrated by this futile cycle, I, as local volunteer Ranger undertook an extended email conversation with Highways Agency to try and agree a more rational approach. When asked why they were so concerned about graffiti Highways Agency  replied it was because it masked any cracks appearing in the walls. The fact that each time they applied the greywash it simply added another layer did not seem to have registered.

However, things went quiet for a while and gradually the underpass filled up with graffiti of varying degrees of quality from simple tagging to quality art work

Editors Note: in this post modern age who am I to judge what is good or bad? Well, feel free to judge what you think of my critical standards but even if I don’t know much about art I do know what I like …

 

In June 2025 I was passing under the underpass and came across two artists at work. Impressed I invited them to undertake a mural under London Bridge, near the Park and Ride entrance to the Greenway. This site had the distinct advantage of not belonging to the Highways Agency or Sustrans. With paint purchased thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Trans Penne Trail and with permission from York City Council’s Highways Department and support from local Ward Councillors, Tom and Mairanny set to work preparing the surface of the entrance fascia to the underpass.

 

Coincidence or Deep State? You decide, but the very same week the anonymous zealots of greyness took it upon themselves to erase the graffiti, good or bad, from the A64 underpass. Many of the passers by were upset but it did of course provide a fresh canvas and within the week the first piece of new work materialised. And so it goes.

 

The entrance fascia of London Bridge is now complete and has received an enthusiastic welcome from path users.

This was only Phase 1 and we are seeking funding to come back in the Spring of 2026 and decorate the internal walls of the underpass with themed work incorporating images from the history of the Solar System Greenway including its time as the LNER route to Scotland and London, its closure due to the Selby Coalfield and its re-invention as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation.

 

 

The Artists

The team of artists consists of Mairyanny and Tom WilliamsYou can find a lot more of their work on Instagram

For Tom   On Instagram search for  evokeone

For Mairanny    search  mairannygraffiti

They have taken on this project  without charge but you can help with this and future work by visitinging their  online Shop where you can purchase limited run prints, mugs and t-shirts – ideal for that unusual Christmas present for someone you really really love.

 

https://mairanny-graffiti.square.site