Residents in a London borough are expressing discontent after local authorities spent £600,000 on painting two railway bridges near East Putney Tube station. The project, which included “pigeon-proofing” the metalwork, was carried out in March before the recent local elections. The new blue and yellow color scheme has drawn criticism from locals, who liken it to IKEA branding and HSS Hire.
One resident, Emma, remarked that the vibrant colors do not align with the area’s traditional aesthetics, deviating from the previous muted red paint on the bridges. Council officials defended the decision, stating that the repainting was done based on the local authority’s guidelines and was categorized as “capital maintenance” rather than a legal requirement.
A Conservative councillor, George Crivelli, expressed concerns about the bright color choice, suggesting that community input should have been sought beforehand. While acknowledging the importance of the refurbishment, he agreed with the sentiment that the new look may not blend well with the surroundings.
Despite the backlash, the council has indicated that there are no plans to alter the design, citing the relatively low volume of negative feedback compared to the large number of local residents and station users. A council spokesperson confirmed that the project was completed in May 2026 at a cost of £600,000.