Giant eagle mural painted over at Garstang pub after heritage row

One of Garstang’s most controversial artworks — a mural of a giant American eagle holding a pint glass, painted on the rear wall of the Eagle and Child pub — is no more.

Feathers flew last year when the image appeared on the pub wall in the centre of Garstang’s conservation area.

Now, 12 months after the eagle landed, heritage campaigners who complained to Wyre Council that the painting was inappropriate for Garstang have learned it has been painted over.

In May last year, Wyre Council confirmed it was investigating the mural, but said it would not be providing regular updates on its probe.

After it appeared, pub tenant Mr Mick O’Hara told local media the first he had heard about objections and calls for an enforcement investigation was when he was approached by a journalist.

He said at the time that “a lot of time and effort” had been put into the artwork and, referring to the objectors, added: “Why have they not called in for a chat?”

The eagle mural split opinion, with concerns raised by the local heritage group, Garstang Town Council and, it is understood, at least one local Wyre councillor.

But there was support from some townsfolk and one former town centre cafe owner who praised Mr O’Hara’s artistic enterprise.

Asked about its probe, Wyre Council stated: “The landlord was advised to submit an application for advertisement consent.

“No application for either planning permission or advertisement consent was submitted to the council for assessment.”

The council also confirmed there had been a possibility that enforcement proceedings might be issued if the murals were not removed.

The council said: “Timeframes for the submission of an application and/or covering up of murals were sent to the landlord.”

The authority added: “No formal enforcement action was commenced.”

Shoppers and visitors using the Eagle and Child Weind right of way, which links Park Hill Road to the town centre, noticed at the weekend that the mural had very recently been painted over — as had two other linked images: a Lakeland scene and a monochrome/cartoon Del Boy portrait.

The only artwork now remaining is a signpost on the corner of Eagle and Child Weind and High Street. It depicts signs pointing to the beer garden, rooms and “beer”.

The Eagle is one of Garstang’s many popular pubs and has good reviews on social media.

Mr O’Hara/the pub was approached for comment after the eagle painting had been painted over. There was no response by the time The Courier went to press.