Residents in north London have expressed outrage after the council spent £18,000 on a colourful mural painted on the town library without obtaining proper planning consent.
The artwork, titled To Autumn and created by artist Albert Agwa, is on the exterior wall of Enfield Town Library, but has drawn fierce criticism from locals who consider it an eyesore.
Enfield Council, under Labour control, failed to secure planning permission before commissioning the piece, which sits within a protected conservation area.
The timing has sparked further frustations as the borough simultaneously faces the closure of seven libraries due to budget constraints, prompting accusations of misplaced spending priorities.
Residents in north London have expressed outrage after the council spent £18,000 on a colourful mural painted on the town library
|CHANGE.ORG
Conservative councillor Chris Dey has initiated a petition demanding the artwork's removal, describing the mural as "hideous" and criticising the expenditure as "ludicrous" given the library closures.
Highlighting the contradiction between spending on public art whilst cutting library services, Mr Dey said: "What message is the council sending out?"
His petition emphasises that Enfield Town Library represents "an architectural gem" featuring "award-winning design and thoughtful construction".
He believes this has been compromised by what he calls a "deeply unsettling" addition.
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Enfield Council failed to secure planning permission before commissioning the piece
|Mr Dey stressed that alterations to structures in conservation areas require "rigorous scrutiny to ensure they uphold, rather than undermine, our community's heritage".
The council maintains that the artwork enhances "visual interest and cultural identity to an otherwise blank elevation", according to planning documents submitted retrospectively.
Officials explained the £18,000 came from the community infrastructure levy, funds contributed by developers specifically designated for public space enhancements that "cannot be spent on other council services".
A council representative said the sum encompasses "artist fees, materials, installation, community workshops, training for an emerging local artist, and ongoing maintenance".
The authority claims it conducted public consultations and sought approval from internal property and library departments before proceeding
|The authority claims it conducted public consultations and sought approval from internal property and library departments before proceeding, selecting a design intended to respect local heritage whilst reflecting community values.
The mural draws inspiration from John Keats's renowned poem of the same title, honouring the Romantic poet who attended Clarke's Academy in Enfield and found creative stimulus in the local countryside.
However, the council has acknowledged potential structural risks, admitting "the brickwork was not originally intended for murals and may be vulnerable to moisture penetration, surface cracking and UV exposure".
An Enfield Council spokeswoman told GB News: "The new mural at Enfield Town Library, created by local artist Albert Agwa, is part of the Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood project.
"The project’s goal is to make the town centre safer, greener and more vibrant, while celebrating our borough’s diverse culture and heritage.
"Inspired by John Keats’ famous poem To Autumn, the artwork draws on Enfield Town’s literary history and its connection to nature. It was shaped with ideas from residents and made with pupils from St Anne's School, alongside an emerging artist mentored by Albert Agwa.
"The mural was funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy – money paid by developers that is ringfenced for community and public space improvements and cannot be spent on other council services. The budget covers artist fees, materials, installation, community workshops, training for an emerging local artist, and ongoing maintenance.
"Before starting the work, we consulted our Property and Library teams for permission and held public events to hear residents’ views. The design was chosen to be sensitive to local heritage and to reflect themes that matter to the community.
"Enfield Council is committed to creating public spaces and artworks that everyone can enjoy. Projects like this also give emerging creatives and artists a valuable career boost. The creative industry is the fastest-growing sector in the UK, providing one in six jobs in London. We’re proud to play a part in supporting local jobs and skills."
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