Residents in Southwest London’s East Putney area are expressing their discontent over Wandsworth Council’s decision to spend £600,000 on repainting two railway bridges near the Tube station. The upgrade works included making the metalwork pigeon-proof but locals are not pleased with the new blue and yellow color scheme, likening it to IKEA branding and HSS Hire.
The repainting project was completed in March before the local elections in May. Residents, like Emma who has lived in the area for eight years, feel that the vibrant color palette is out of place for Putney, replacing the bridges’ previous more subtle red paint. They criticize the new look as being “garish” and not fitting in with the surrounding environment.
Council officials clarified that the repainting was done according to the local authority’s recommended specifications, even though it was not a legal requirement but considered as “capital maintenance.” Conservative ward councillor George Crivelli voiced concerns about the bright colors not aligning with the local aesthetics and suggested that the community should have been consulted before finalizing the color scheme.
Despite acknowledging the importance of the repainting work, Crivelli and other residents feel that the bridge’s appearance is too bold and may not blend well with the East Putney area. The council’s response to the criticism indicated that there are no plans to revise the design as the negative feedback was minimal compared to the large number of local residents and station users.
A Wandsworth Council spokesperson disclosed that the project cost £600,000 and was completed in May 2026.
