Public Urged To Have Their Say On Bridlington's Striking New Murals

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is asking residents and visitors to share their feedback on two newly completed heritage murals in Bridlington.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is calling on residents and visitors to share their thoughts on two newly completed murals in Bridlington.

The local authority has launched a short survey to evaluate the impact of the striking artworks, which were commissioned as part of a £125,000 regeneration project funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The council stated that local voices were put at the heart of the creative process when residents were invited last year to share their ideas on what they would like to see represented in the town.

The two eye-catching murals, which celebrate Bridlington's rich heritage, character, and community spirit, were created by professional artist Sam Porter of Mural Minded. The council noted that each piece took around four weeks to paint.

One of the murals is located in Bridlington's Old Town, near High Street facing Scarborough Road. It features the 'Gansey Girl', representing fishermen's wives from years ago, alongside images of the nearby Priory Church, a jackdaw, and a swallow.

The second artwork can be found on the back of the GOAT building on the corner of Harbour Road leading to Prince Street. This piece depicts a ship caught in the Great Gale, the infamous sea tragedy of 1871, painted alongside gannets, a puffin, and a lobster.

Since painting began, the local authority says the murals have been warmly embraced by the town, generating more than 18,000 positive reactions on social media. Even before their completion, the artworks attracted visitors from out of town, including one dedicated person who travelled over 100 miles from Oldham in Greater Manchester to see them. Pupils from local primary schools have also visited to meet the artist.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is now asking people to complete a survey that takes just a few minutes. The questionnaire asks if the murals have increased awareness of Bridlington's local heritage, whether they have changed how people feel when they are in the town, and if the artworks have influenced whether they visit places or spend money at local businesses.

The council noted that the feedback will help them learn what is working well, what people enjoy, and how projects like this can shape future creative initiatives across the area.

Artist Sam Porter said:

"The reaction has been massively positive. The amount of nice comments and people coming to look at the murals while I've been painting them has been amazing. And I've seen so many posts about them on social media, almost daily."

Councillor Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:

"These stunning murals are a real celebration of Bridlington's history, heritage and local stories. They have already attracted a lot of attention for the town, which is fantastic. They are a shining example of the new investments we have made to enhance Westgate Park and Harbour Road to make them even more pleasant and inviting for residents and visitors."

The murals are part of a broader scheme delivered by the council's regeneration and funding team that includes improvements to Westgate Park in the Old Town and Harbour Road. A new footpath has been created through the park, with benches positioned to encourage visitors to pause and relax.

The council stated that these measures, along with upcoming installations of new lighting and CCTV cameras in partnership with Bridlington Town Council, will play a key role in preventing anti-social behaviour and giving people a greater sense of safety.

Benches have also been installed along Harbour Road to allow people to soak up the atmosphere of the historic fishing port and enjoy clear views of the new harbour mural.

While East Riding of Yorkshire Council does not currently have funding available for future mural projects, it confirmed that independent partners are exploring opportunities to develop further artworks in Bridlington. The survey asks if anyone would be interested in getting involved in or sponsoring a future mural.

The council has issued a huge thank you to Sam Porter for creating the murals and to building owners David White and Reece Holland for allowing the use of their properties.

The survey can be completed at https://eastyorkshirecoast.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/v3/bridlington-newly-installed-murals?step=step1