Palestine refugee mural return vetoed by station
Andrew CurtisA station owner vetoed putting a mural which celebrated Palestinian refugees and sparked antisemitism claims back up.
The artwork, created in 2012, was removed from Tynemouth Metro station in October 2023 following defacement threats.
A row ensued between councillors, academics and campaign groups over whether to reinstall it over claims the mural was antisemitic, and in January North Tyneside Council, which owns the art, said the work would go on display at the White Swan Centre in Killingworth rather than the station.
The BBC has since learned station owners Station Development Ltd rejected the return of the mural to its original site. The firm did not respond to requests for comment.
Following a freedom of information request, the council provided emails sent between itself and Station Development Ltd regarding the mural.
The emails show the council had decided to put the mural, which was created by young Palestinian refugees, back on display in December 2024 following "broad consensus" from community groups.
They also show the council agreed to put interpretive information signs around the artwork, as well as additional protective screening.
LDRSOn 25 February 2025, Station Development Ltd said the mural could be put back up at Tynemouth Metro station.
But on the same day, a representative from the group emailed the council to say its shareholders had changed their minds.
"They have concerns that matters are still volatile in the West Bank, Gaza and Isreal [sic]," they wrote.
The representative asked if they could "jointly monitor events" and make a decision at a later date.
The council then asked the station owners on behalf of the mural's restoration group multiple times whether they would meet to discuss the reinstatement of the artwork at the station.
The station owners promised a response but did not send one.
North Tyneside Council confirmed the last correspondence it received from Station Development Ltd about the mural was in April 2025.
The local authority said it was now working "as quickly as possible" to install the mural at the White Swan Centre.
