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Cheltenham MP calls for inquiry into removal of Banksy's Spy Booth Cheltenham MP calls for inquiry into removal of Banksy's Spy Booth
(35 minutes later)
An MP has demanded an inquiry into the removal of a Banksy mural satirising government surveillance.An MP has demanded an inquiry into the removal of a Banksy mural satirising government surveillance.
The Spy Booth work appeared overnight in April 2014 on the wall of a house in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, about three miles (5km) from the headquarters of Britain’s surveillance agency, GCHQ.The Spy Booth work appeared overnight in April 2014 on the wall of a house in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, about three miles (5km) from the headquarters of Britain’s surveillance agency, GCHQ.
On Saturday, pictures were shared on social media showing the wall stripped back to its brickwork.On Saturday, pictures were shared on social media showing the wall stripped back to its brickwork.
The mural was popular with locals and tourists, quickly making the house it was displayed on one of the UK’s most photographed homes, and was given retrospective listed status protection by Cheltenham borough council last year. That meant it could not be removed without the consent of councillors.The mural was popular with locals and tourists, quickly making the house it was displayed on one of the UK’s most photographed homes, and was given retrospective listed status protection by Cheltenham borough council last year. That meant it could not be removed without the consent of councillors.
Alex Chalk, the Conservative MP for the town, described the possible loss of the work as “absolutely shocking”.Alex Chalk, the Conservative MP for the town, described the possible loss of the work as “absolutely shocking”.
“The Banksy mural is a much admired piece of Cheltenham’s artistic heritage. We need an urgent inquiry to get to the bottom of what happened. Whoever is responsible needs to be held to account,” he said. He said: “The Banksy mural is a much admired piece of Cheltenham’s artistic heritage. We need an urgent inquiry to get to the bottom of what happened. Whoever is responsible needs to be held to account.
“We need answers. Has it definitely been destroyed? If so, who by? How did the conservation effort go so badly wrong? Time for urgent clarification.”“We need answers. Has it definitely been destroyed? If so, who by? How did the conservation effort go so badly wrong? Time for urgent clarification.”
The mural shows three agents in brown trenchcoats and sunglasses trying to listen in to conversations from a telephone box next to the wall.The mural shows three agents in brown trenchcoats and sunglasses trying to listen in to conversations from a telephone box next to the wall.
It appeared following Edward Snowden’s revelations in 2013 of widespread phone tapping by western governments.It appeared following Edward Snowden’s revelations in 2013 of widespread phone tapping by western governments.
Steve Jordan, the leader of Cheltenham borough council, said the plasterwork on the house had been undergoing repairs, but he was unaware of the mural being removed.Steve Jordan, the leader of Cheltenham borough council, said the plasterwork on the house had been undergoing repairs, but he was unaware of the mural being removed.
The repair work had resulted from an enforcement notice issued by the council that predated the Banksy mural.The repair work had resulted from an enforcement notice issued by the council that predated the Banksy mural.
“It [the artwork] is protected by a listing. I will have a look at what the situation is, certainly,” he said.“It [the artwork] is protected by a listing. I will have a look at what the situation is, certainly,” he said.
Mark Nelson, the built environment enforcement manager at the council, said: “We are currently investigating the situation and are in conversation with the owner.” Mark Nelson, the built environment enforcement manager at the council, said: “We are investigating the situation and are in conversation with the owner.”
The mural had been subjected to repeated vandalism since being painted on the Grade II-listed Georgian house.The mural had been subjected to repeated vandalism since being painted on the Grade II-listed Georgian house.
The house had been put up for sale in January with an asking price of £210,000 and a note that urgent work had to be carried out on the property.The house had been put up for sale in January with an asking price of £210,000 and a note that urgent work had to be carried out on the property.