Chippy mural scrapped over Nazi SS symbol row

Wakefield Council commissioned the mural to illustrate Ferrybridge power station

A mural planned for the side of a fish and chip shop has been scrapped amid claims it contained a lightning bolt symbol worn by Nazi SS officers.

The design was one of 21 public artworks commissioned by Wakefield Council as part of its Our Year 2024 cultural celebrations.

It was earmarked for the gable end of the shop in Ferrybridge, to mark the area's links with the Ferrybridge C power station and its role in producing energy for the nation.

The mural was dropped, however, after Pete Girt, councillor for the Knottingley and Ferrybridge ward, complained about the imagery and the council said it would no longer be used.

The artwork had been due to go up on the wall of a chip shop in Ferrybridge

Copies of the design were handed to senior officers and some councillors at a full council meeting on Wednesday, and Girt reiterated his concerns.

Hannah Appleyard, the council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, disputed his claim but said the design would now not be used.

The artist responsible for the work was not named in the council chamber, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

Girt also called for the council to commission a different artist to complete the project.

He said: "My concern, and I need to voice this, is that when you’ve got an artist that thinks it’s ok to use the Nazi SS symbol to signify lightning bolts, and has to be told that’s not appropriate, I don’t think that’s an artist we should be working with.

"And it’s alright going back to him and saying ‘right, do a redesign’. I’d rather just see a different artist."

Councillor Hannah Appleyard said it was wrong to say the SS symbol had been used

Appleyard disputed that the artist had used SS symbols, and said: "I think it is wrong to say that that is the symbol that he used.

"Given that it was a mural celebrating the heritage of Ferrybridge power station, it’s quite clear that they were lightning bolts."

She added: "At the moment we are working with that artist. We have got a further consultation period as you know.

"There are further designs that are coming forward. I think we need to focus on what is coming next."

Our Year is a Wakefield Council-led culture year, aimed at boosting visitor numbers in the district and giving local people the chance to get involved in community events.

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