An M25 bridge that became a local landmark thanks to the graffiti scrawled across it has been painted over.
A petition to repaint the slogan has been created and thousands took to social media to vent their fury after they noticed the “Give peas a chance” message had been painted over the viaduct close to Junction 17 of the motorway.
The bridge is seen by many drivers as a homing beacon. Just hours after the news spread two separate Facebook pages, one titled Give Peas A Chance – Bridge Over the M25, were set up. More than 14 thousand people have liked and followed the pages.
Comments include pleas to respray the message across the bridge and for people to sign the petition which, if it receives ten thousand signatures, will then lead to the issue being discussed in Parliament.
It’s claimed the writing was the tag of a London graffiti artist who was arrested before it was completed but finished by another graffiti artist. The bridge, which is known as the Chalfont Viaduct, was built between 1902 and 1906.
In 2009 Oxford Archaeology carried out a historic building report on the structure and studied the legendary graffiti as part of the noble viaduct’s architectural interest.
Their conclusion was that someone else added the words “Give” and “a chance” almost immediately after the appearance of the original tag, probably as a pun on the title of John Lennon’s 1969 protest song “Give peace a chance.”
Presumably, the aim was simply to amuse passing motorists on the notoriously busy motorway.
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