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Newport Chartist mural: Protest after demolition starts | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Around 20 people joined a protest after demolition work of a city's mural depicting the 1839 Chartist uprising started. | |
It followed failed attempts to preserve the mosaic, which is making way for a shopping development. | |
Protesters shouted at workers as demolition started, before barriers were pulled down and some people rushed through. | |
The 35m (115ft) mural is in a walkway off John Frost Square. | |
Artist Kenneth Budd in 1978 used 200,000 pieces of tile and glass to create the mosaic. | |
It is being pulled down to make way for a £100m shopping development. | It is being pulled down to make way for a £100m shopping development. |
Newport Council said it "had to consider the wider picture" when deciding what to do with the work. A statement from the local authority is expected later. | Newport Council said it "had to consider the wider picture" when deciding what to do with the work. A statement from the local authority is expected later. |
The council said it could commission another memorial to the Chartists and is due to consult on that. | The council said it could commission another memorial to the Chartists and is due to consult on that. |
More than 2,500 signed a petition urging the mural to be saved. | More than 2,500 signed a petition urging the mural to be saved. |
There were shouts of "despicable" and "vandals" from protesters at the scene. | There were shouts of "despicable" and "vandals" from protesters at the scene. |
The area around the mural has been fenced off. | The area around the mural has been fenced off. |
The demolition comes after Wales' heritage body Cadw said the artwork did not meet its "special architectural interest" criteria for listing. | The demolition comes after Wales' heritage body Cadw said the artwork did not meet its "special architectural interest" criteria for listing. |
The artwork faced demolition in 2009 under a previous development proposal that was later scrapped. | The artwork faced demolition in 2009 under a previous development proposal that was later scrapped. |
But current plans for the Friars Walk shopping centre remain on track prompting The Twentieth Century Society, a charity that champions buildings and public art, to call for its preservation. | But current plans for the Friars Walk shopping centre remain on track prompting The Twentieth Century Society, a charity that champions buildings and public art, to call for its preservation. |
Henrietta Billings, senior conservation adviser for the society, said: "The Twentieth Century Society is shocked and deeply saddened to see the destruction of the Chartist mural - started by Newport Council today. | Henrietta Billings, senior conservation adviser for the society, said: "The Twentieth Century Society is shocked and deeply saddened to see the destruction of the Chartist mural - started by Newport Council today. |
"The speed with which the demolition has begun ahead of the public demonstration planned in support of the mural this weekend is startling. | "The speed with which the demolition has begun ahead of the public demonstration planned in support of the mural this weekend is startling. |
'Real risks' | 'Real risks' |
"Future generations will look back on this day with great regret. It is without doubt one of Wales' best pieces of post war public art." | "Future generations will look back on this day with great regret. It is without doubt one of Wales' best pieces of post war public art." |
The council called in consultants who advised that moving the art work would cost at least £600,000. | The council called in consultants who advised that moving the art work would cost at least £600,000. |
The report also said there were "real risks that the mural would not survive such a move". | The report also said there were "real risks that the mural would not survive such a move". |
But this is disputed by campaigners who called for the work to be preserved. | But this is disputed by campaigners who called for the work to be preserved. |
Retired history teacher Susan Agland said: "The council only had one quote on how much the work would cost. | Retired history teacher Susan Agland said: "The council only had one quote on how much the work would cost. |
"As the work would have needed public money, they should have had more than one quote for it." | "As the work would have needed public money, they should have had more than one quote for it." |
"The mural means a lot to a lot of people. Children learn from it. Parents would explain the pictures to them, telling them what happened here 170-odd years ago and how we're supposed to have democracy now because of the Chartists. | |
"I don't think the council has handled this at all well." | |
Campaigners had planned a protest at the site this weekend to show their anger the mural's loss. |