Milton Keynes council ‘actively working’ to restore paintwork peeling off Station Square artwork
Milton Keynes City Council says it is ‘actively working’ to restore paintwork which is peeling off the new ‘Walk With Your Dreams’ artwork outside the entrance to Milton Keynes Central Railway Station.
The artwork, which a Freedom of Information request revealed cost around £2.19 million, was designed by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori, and unveiled in October 2025.
It covers an area of 3,000 square metres outside the railway station and features vibrant, colourful flooring inspired by Nigerian textile patterns and the city’s grid system.
Conservative leader at Milton Keynes City Council Shazna Muzammil told the Citizen last week: “After all this money is spent, in less than a few months, you have paint already peeling and going into our drains, surfaces that become a slip hazard when it rains, and potholes which are still there as large as life."
The Labour-run authority has already clarified that the project was not funded by council tax, and that the majority of the money came from the Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP), a body which is owned by the council.
In a statement provided to the Citizen today, the council’s cabinet member for planning and pacemaking Shanika Mahendran said: "No council tax money was used to pay for the artwork at Station Square and it is misleading to say otherwise.
"The entrance to Central Milton Keynes Station was in a very poor state and needed significant improvement.
"The work was funded by MKDP, our council‑owned company that generates a profit, not through residents’ council tax.
"The 'Walk With Your Dreams' artwork has received international recognition, including featuring on the cover of multiple publications, has been widely used for campaigns advertising city businesses, and has completely transformed our central station into a vibrant gateway that celebrates the diverse communities and energy of our city.
"However, the artwork came with a 10‑year guarantee, and it has not met that standard. We are actively working to ensure this is resolved.
"Given that the funding came from developer contributions specifically earmarked for public art, the Conservatives should be clear about what they believe that money should have been spent on instead, or whether they think it should simply have been handed back to the developer."