A quiet side street in Heswall, a town on the Wirral in Merseyside, has unexpectedly become a topic of conversation following the appearance of graffiti depicting two phallic images on the road. This artwork was first brought to public attention through a community Facebook group earlier this week, prompting a wide range of reactions from local residents.
In an effort to provide context, the ECHO geolocated the images to Castle Drive, near its junction with Feather Lane, which is situated just outside the town centre. While the publication has chosen to present a blurred version of the images to maintain some decorum, the full pictures have circulated widely online, eliciting various interpretations from community members.
The reactions have been mixed. Several individuals found humour in the drawings, drawing comparisons to well-known cultural references such as the Cerne Abbas Giant and the London 2012 Olympics logo. One commenter went as far as likening the graffiti to the style of 'W**ksy', a professional artist known for highlighting road issues by tagging potholes with similar images.
Conversely, not all residents appreciated the graffiti. Some expressed concern over the appropriateness of the images, particularly in regard to children. One parent articulated their discontent, stating, “If my children had done this, I'd have been furious with them and incredibly disappointed that they were so lacking in awareness.”
Despite the differing opinions, a sentiment of youthful mischief resonated in the comments section, with one defender stating, “We were this age once! I'm sure all lads did the same [...] it's bloody stupid. But we all were/are. What happened to the inner child? Being a kid is way more amusing than being an adult. No harm done. They probably had a laugh doing it and have gone home.”
In response to this graffiti incident, the local authority, Wirral Council, which oversees the 737 miles of road in the area, confirmed its policy regarding graffiti removal. The council removes graffiti on public property, and is also responsible for addressing racist or offensive images on most private properties if they are visible from the road. The council indicated that it aims to remove offensive graffiti within 24 hours of being reported, while all other graffiti should be addressed within 15 working days.
The ECHO reached out to Wirral Council for additional comments, but the authority redirected inquiries to its graffiti reporting page, which provides further information on how residents can report such instances.
Source: Noah Wire Services