An innovative scheme to allow people in Biggleswade to express themselves with graffiti art has been put in jeopardy after several boards designated for the purpose were cut down and destroyed.

The Comet: Biggleswade Town Council deputy town clerk Mike Thorn, Taylor Wimpey sales executive Cheryl Pilborough, Biggleswade Town Council town clerk Rob McGregor and Taylor Wimpey sales executive Claire Webb presenting the graffiti boards in July 2015.Biggleswade Town Council deputy town clerk Mike Thorn, Taylor Wimpey sales executive Cheryl Pilborough, Biggleswade Town Council town clerk Rob McGregor and Taylor Wimpey sales executive Claire Webb presenting the graffiti boards in July 2015. (Image: Archant)

The marine ply graffiti boards were donated by housing developers Taylor Wimpey in June of last year and installed in Lakes Recreation Ground as part of a community engagement day run by Biggleswade Town Council and Central Bedfordshire Council.

The aim of the project was to reduce the amount of graffiti in the town by providing a specific area for artists to use, but the scheme has lasted under a year after the boards were damaged last week.

Andy Buckley has been taking photos of graffiti over the past year and has a Facebook site dedicated to the boards.

“Sadly the boards were comprehensively vandalised by someone with a saw,” he said.

“This has taken away a town council-provided facility, which attracted much praise, as well as some controversial comments from people living in the town.”

Oly Durcan, who used the graffiti boards before moving to London where he has an art studio, said: “I heard about the vandalism. It’s such a shame.”

Town council clerk Rob McGregor, who was instrumental in getting the boards erected, said: “It is a great shame as the boards were well used and they dramatically reduced the graffiti around the town.

“The uprights that hold the board up were sawn through, the boards were then damaged when they were on the ground.

“I have no immediate plans to reinstate the boards, this damage has deprived the kids of somewhere to go and do what they are very skilled at, graffiti.”

Boards were put in place previously, but had to be taken down due to weather erosion.