AN award winning artist is calling on the owners of Lowestoft's railway station to support his campaign to give it a facelift.Jonathan Andersson, of Commercial Road, Lowestoft, wants to overhaul the town's train station with a community-involved art project and is hoping that he can secure the necessary support to make it happen.

AN award winning artist is calling on the owners of Lowestoft's railway station to support his campaign to give it a facelift.

Jonathan Andersson, of Commercial Road, Lowestoft, wants to overhaul the town's train station with a community-involved art project and is hoping that he can secure the necessary support to make it happen.

The station has been the subject of much debate across the town long before 1st East put forward plans to move the station as part of a scheme to redevelop the town. Numerous readers have contacted The Journal in recent months about the condition of the station and Mr Andersson is hoping that the public will get behind his proposal for a facelift.

Mr Andersson said: 'My proposal is to create artworks on the boardings which have been so sadly neglected over so many years. This of course won't be a permanent solution to the decline of this historic building but at least it will brighten it up a little.

'Sometimes small things make a big difference and I firmly believe this is one of those occasions.'

His proposal is intended to be a very collaborative one, working with the public to design art works for the boardings that the local community can call their own.

He hopes to create the pieces over a 12 week period, with regular meetings throughout that time and guidance from a panel of experts, to ensure that genuine public support is won.

'I am more than happy to consult and work co-operatively and with members of train companies and the general public. I see public 'ownership' as an essential part of this project,' he said.

Over the last six months Mr Andersson - who has exhibited across Europe and in the US - has approached a number of bodies for funding in the hope of creating a positive talking point and he hopes to gain support from National Express East Anglia, who lease the station, and the owners Network Rail.

A spokesperson for National Express East Anglia said: 'That actual building is not in our lease area, but we would be more than happy to have a dialogue to brighten some of the areas up and we are sure that Network Rail is similarly interested.'

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: 'Network Rail certainly wouldn't stand in the way of any project like this. We are happy for anything that can be practically done to spruce up the station.'

See this week's Postbox in The Journal on pages 26-27 for opinions on the railway station proposals.