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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Blur Banksy is ruined by mistake | Blur Banksy is ruined by mistake |
| (2 days later) | |
| A mural by graffiti artist Banksy, which once featured on the cover of a single by rock band Blur, has been painted over by Hackney Council. | A mural by graffiti artist Banksy, which once featured on the cover of a single by rock band Blur, has been painted over by Hackney Council. |
| The spoof image of the Royal Family, painted on the side of a building in Stoke Newington, east London, was partially covered with black paint. | The spoof image of the Royal Family, painted on the side of a building in Stoke Newington, east London, was partially covered with black paint. |
| The building's owner was in tears as she begged workmen to stop. By the time she persuaded them it was almost gone. | The building's owner was in tears as she begged workmen to stop. By the time she persuaded them it was almost gone. |
| Hackney Council said the image was painted over in error. | Hackney Council said the image was painted over in error. |
| Property owner Sofie Attrill gave consent for the mural to be painted on the building so it could be photographed for the launch of Blur's 2003 single Crazy Beat. | Property owner Sofie Attrill gave consent for the mural to be painted on the building so it could be photographed for the launch of Blur's 2003 single Crazy Beat. |
| Since then it has attracted tourists from all over the world and become a local landmark. | Since then it has attracted tourists from all over the world and become a local landmark. |
| We never wanted to make money out of it like many do - but it was a part of our lives. Now it's gone Sofie Attrill, building owner | We never wanted to make money out of it like many do - but it was a part of our lives. Now it's gone Sofie Attrill, building owner |
| Ms Attrill, 50, a property manager who lives in the building, said workmen used rollers to cover it in black paint. | Ms Attrill, 50, a property manager who lives in the building, said workmen used rollers to cover it in black paint. |
| She said: "The workmen were smiling as they did it - they thought it was funny. | She said: "The workmen were smiling as they did it - they thought it was funny. |
| "I just burst into tears. But a crowd gathered and we managed to get them to stop before destroying it completely." | "I just burst into tears. But a crowd gathered and we managed to get them to stop before destroying it completely." |
| Hackney Council needed permission to remove the mural because it was on private property. | Hackney Council needed permission to remove the mural because it was on private property. |
| But its letters were sent to an address Ms Attrill lived at 25 years ago. | But its letters were sent to an address Ms Attrill lived at 25 years ago. |
| After receiving no response the council served an enforcement notice. | After receiving no response the council served an enforcement notice. |
| Ms Attrill continued: "I don't care about art or politics - I am just an ordinary girl who liked being cheered up by seeing this on my street. | Ms Attrill continued: "I don't care about art or politics - I am just an ordinary girl who liked being cheered up by seeing this on my street. |
| Damon Albarn's Blur commissioned the piece in 2003 | Damon Albarn's Blur commissioned the piece in 2003 |
| "People have always been telling us to sell it or cover it in Perspex, but we only wanted it to be here for the public's enjoyment. | "People have always been telling us to sell it or cover it in Perspex, but we only wanted it to be here for the public's enjoyment. |
| "You can't take a photo if it's behind a thick plastic screen." | "You can't take a photo if it's behind a thick plastic screen." |
| She continued: "We never wanted to make money out of it like many do - but it was a part of our lives. Now it's gone. | She continued: "We never wanted to make money out of it like many do - but it was a part of our lives. Now it's gone. |
| "People are always doing down Hackney but this was something we could all be proud of." | "People are always doing down Hackney but this was something we could all be proud of." |
| Hackney Council was initially unrepentant. | Hackney Council was initially unrepentant. |
| Cllr Alan Laing said: "The council's position is not to make a judgement call on whether graffiti is art." | Cllr Alan Laing said: "The council's position is not to make a judgement call on whether graffiti is art." |
| But he later added: "Due to a problem at the land registry unfortunately our letters stating our intention to clean this building didn't reach the owner. | But he later added: "Due to a problem at the land registry unfortunately our letters stating our intention to clean this building didn't reach the owner. |
| "As soon as we realised this, work stopped. We are now speaking with her about how to resolve the issue." | "As soon as we realised this, work stopped. We are now speaking with her about how to resolve the issue." |