Sish Lane Underpass transformed

The underpass has been transformed with new artwork.

The underpass at Sish Lane, part of a key travel route between Stevenage Old Town and Stevenage Town Centre, has been transformed with the introduction of a new piece of urban artwork.

The community were asked to share their memories to form part of this latest feature. The artwork depicts scenes from both the Old Town and New Town, alongside these memories from the past and iconic features of the present. This underpass is the latest to be improved as part of a collaboration between Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council.

Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, comments: “Stevenage Old Town is just as important as the New Town and has a wealth of heritage that deserves to be celebrated. Not only does this artwork provide a warm welcome to those travelling by foot or bike to or from the Old Town, but it also connects our past and present through a series of images that celebrate Stevenage as a whole. We are delighted with how all of the urban artworks across the town have been received and we look forward to the programme continuing throughout the borough”.

Cllr Loraine Rossati, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing at Stevenage Borough Council, comments: “Connectivity is a key focus of this programme of underpass artworks, linking different areas throughout the borough with fun and expressive artworks that encourage people to use our underpass network. As this latest unveiling depicts, we have so much history in the town to be celebrated and this has been perfectly captured in this latest mural. We hope that everyone enjoys the scenes and that this brightens up journeys as the underpass is used”.

The project has been funded by the Stevenage Development Board through the UK Government Towns Fund, of which Stevenage received £37.5m in March 2021. Part of the funding is allocated to improving cycling and pedestrian connectivity, and artworks to the underpasses and cycleways throughout the town are a key part of this.

Chair of the Stevenage Development Board Adrian Hawkins OBE added: “We are delighted with the latest urban artwork which has been created at the important Sish Lane underpass travel route. It has always been a key part of the joining of Stevenage Old Town and Stevenage town centre and its design and completion has been made possible by both the joint working of Stevenage Borough Council and Herts County Council and the input of the Stevenage Development Board.

“Such collaborative working, which has also included the Towns Fund, shows that all parties are working together for the best interests of Stevenage in this regeneration.”

Cllr Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at Hertfordshire County Council, commented: “This is another example of Hertfordshire County Council working in partnership to brighten up some of our subways. I am delighted with the result here, and hope it will encourage more people to walk, wheel and cycle, contributing to our vision for a cleaner, greener, healthier Hertfordshire. My sincere thanks goes out to all that helped bring this project together.”

Hertfordshire-based street artists MurWalls have designed and painted the underpass.