THE new face of Bracknell will be missing a piece of the town’s history as The Lexicon has no room for a distinctive mural that was in Charles Square.

Commissioned in 1974 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Bracknell becoming a new town the 30 metre mural was removed from above Mothercare before the demolition of the town centre got underway.

Plans were to reinstall the frieze nearby the original mounting but the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership have now said it’s too big to return to The Lexicon.

Simon Russian, development manager for Legal & General, speaking on behalf of the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, said: “Due to the large size of the mural and space constraints within The Lexicon, it is not possible to relocate the William Mitchell sculpture within the new town centre.

“The Bracknell Regeneration Partnership is working to find a suitable location within the town for the artwork, which is made of individual fibreglass panels.”

William Mitchell was a well known sculptor, artist and designer who created a number of works across the UK in the 1960s and 70s.

Nine of his other works across the country are listed to protect them.

Andrew Radgick, history officer of the Bracknell Forest Society, said: “We were disappointed that they have decided to move it out of the town centre.

“We have been talking on a fairly regular basis with Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker [the borough council’s executive member for regeneration].

“One suggestion was putting the mural by the long wall of Princess Square. A few people have suggested that but because there’s work to be done it’s not suitable.”

The fibreglass mural, which was bronze in colour, charted the history of Bracknell. 

The decision to move the mural comes a month after it was announced the main route through the development will be called Braccan Walk, in tribute the town’s first recorded name.

Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, executive member for economic development and regeneration said: “We understand how popular the William Mitchell sculpture is to our residents and it has always been our intention to relocate it within Bracknell.

“With another year left on the town centre regeneration, the sculpture remains safely in storage and undamaged.

“The sculpture is a very large piece of fibreglass artwork, so we are working with Bracknell Regeneration Partnership to explore all possible options as to how and where it can be incorporated back into the borough.

“We are committed to successfully re-homing this sculpture along with other loved pieces of artwork.

“We will also be incorporating new artwork into the town centre when it opens and there will be more information on that over the coming months.”