Heartbreak after vandals write obscenities on much-loved mural

Beechdale councillor Tina Jukes said she was left deeply upset when she discovered obscenities had been daubed all over the art on the side of Beechdale Social Club in Stephenson Square.

She said she will be contacting Walsall Council and the police what can be done to tackle this and other issues in the area.

The offenders also tagged other parts of the building as well as fences of gardens to nearby housing. It is believed they struck overnight or the early hours of Friday.

The piece was created around 14 years ago by young people, as part of a mural art project by Frank F Community Centre.

Councillor Jukes said: “The mural has been there for years and it has never been touched.

“The young people really took ownership of it so to see it has been vandalised is really heartbreaking. They have looked after it so to see it has been defaced in such a disgusting way has really upset me.

“I wonder how those who did it will feel when they see what has been done to their hard work."

The mural was created as part of an art project by young people at Frank F Community Centre years ago in around 2008 or 2009.

“It must have happened overnight because I was there yesterday (Thursday, November 17) and the graffiti wasn’t there.

“I’m going to contact the council and police to see what could be done. There have been other issues in the area such as youngsters stealing cars and off road biking and this just adds to it.”

Walsall Labour group leader Aftab Nawaz added: “The mural has a great deal of significance in Beechdale and has been there a long time so it is very upsetting and disappointing to see it has been vandalised in this way.”

The vandalism has already attracted strong comments on social media after details of the attack emerged. One said: “Disgusting. It looked so good but now it looks a mess.”

Another person added: “Is there CCTV there? Put their faces on Facebook and find them. If they live on Beechdale, then shame on them.”