News

Offenders help to transform Kendal underpass

1st October 2010

In July and August 2010 Kendal offenders undertook 520 hours of unpaid work on a very unique project. They worked with the artist Shane Johnstone to transform the graffiti daubed, litter strewn underpass in Kendal into a world class piece of public art, which undoubtedly will become a tourist attraction for future generations.

Pictured from left to right are:
Jenny Draper (CDRP), Peter Charnley (Community Payback supervisor), Di Johnston (CDRP)

The subway under Romney Road in Kendal had been identified as a blight on the town which urgently needed improving, by the pupils at both Queen Katherine and Kirkbie Kendal Schools. Following a series of experimental workshops held locally by Shane Johnstone, Kendal Impact Social Society (KISS) suggested that mosaic panels could be used to enhance and brighten up this dark neglected area. In less than a year the �KISS� group, with help from Lauren Wellard from Impact Housing and Jenny Draper from the South Lakeland Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), collectively managed to raise an impressive �20,000 for this project.

Shane Johnstone ran further public workshops at a number of venues around Kendal. Schools, playgroups and shopping centres all hosted these events and this allowed individuals of all ages and nationalities to produce mosaic panels for the subway rejuvenation project.

In addition to the public workshops, the project consisted of three distinct stages:

Stage 1
The subway had to be cleaned up, the graffiti removed by pressure washing and all of the debris taken away. This work was undertaken by a group of offenders from Barrow, supervised by Community Payback supervisor David Garrett.

Stage 2
Offenders from Kendal, supervised by Community Payback supervisor Peter Charnley put up 960 separate mosaic panels in the subway, cementing them to the walls before grouting them in. In addition to this work, further graffiti was removed from stonework at both ends of the subway and the ceilings and walls below the mosaics were painted to freshen it up.

Stage 3
Four more coats of paint were applied to the ceiling, surplus grout was removed from the mosaics and then they were polished with glass cleaner to make them shine. Unfortunately, on the night of the �Torchlight procession� the mosaics were vandalised and as a result of this over 100 individual glass blocks had to be replaced.

Cumbria Probation Trust is extremely pleased to have been involved in this important project. Community Payback Manager, Lynn Halfpenny said,

�Members of the public are delighted with the transformation. We have received many positive and complimentary comments being made about the contribution made by offenders undertaking Community Payback as part of their sentence from the Courts.

The offenders involved in this project have benefitted from the experience through learning new practical skills, practising problem solving and working together as a team to give something back to the communities they have wronged.�


This is a very high profile project in Kendal and the surrounding area. Following the completion of this high profile project, the subway is now much safer for users. This is a fantastic achievement as it is well utilised, particularly now that the �K� village shopping centre is now open.


Community Payback has a commitment to visit the subway on a regular basis to complete any repairs and remove any graffiti as and when necessary. The CDRP have provided funding for the purchase of graffiti removal substances for this purpose to ensure that the public can continue to enjoy the bright, colourful subway.

Further information about Community Payback from Cumbria Probation Trust

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