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Bid to raise £1m 'by 4pm' for Banksy's 'Spy Booth' in Cheltenham Banksy's Spy Booth: Race to raise £1m in Cheltenham fails
(about 2 hours later)
Cheltenham's business community has until "4pm" to raise £1m in a bid to keep Banksy's "Spy Booth" in the town. A bid to raise £1m to keep a Banksy artwork in Cheltenham has failed to hit its target within a businesswoman's self-imposed deadline.
The piece, which depicts men "snooping" on a telephone box, appeared on a listed house in Hewlett Road in April. Business leaders had wanted to raise £1m to buy Spy Booth, by 16:00 BST.
On Thursday, Q Scaffolding confirmed it had been sold and would be removed but the council has warned that without planning permission, they may be committing an offence. The work, depicting men "snooping" on a telephone box, appeared on a Grade II* listed house in April.
Meanwhile, a business club wants to raise £1m to make the owner an offer. On Thursday it was confirmed it was being removed but the council has warned planning permission may be needed first.
Angela DeSouza, from the Women's Business Club, said that after speaking to the owner she had been told he would be willing to consider an "attractive offer". 'Get it done'
John Joyce, from Q, confirmed on Thursday that the property's owner contacted street art collector Sky Grimes to sell the piece, a week before Banksy confirmed he had painted it. Angela DeSouza, from the town's Women's Business Club, said the owner had told her he would be willing to consider an "attractive offer".
But, following a number of pledges of money from small businesses and individuals, Mrs DeSouza said the target had not been reached.
"There has been a lot of support but we are really looking to gather the £1m from one person," she said.
"It is definitely not something we are going to rest on. We are going to get it done."
John Joyce, from scaffolding firm Q, confirmed on Thursday that the property's owner contacted street art collector Sky Grimes to sell the piece, a week before Banksy confirmed he had painted it.
He said that part of the work would be removed "on Friday" and part of it "on Sunday or Monday", ahead of it going on show at a London gallery for a month on 4 July.He said that part of the work would be removed "on Friday" and part of it "on Sunday or Monday", ahead of it going on show at a London gallery for a month on 4 July.
But the council has warned both the property owner and Q, that it may be an offence if work is carried out "to remove the fabric" of the listed building without consent. But the council warned both the property owner and Q, that it may be an offence if work is carried out "to remove the fabric" of the listed building without consent.
"The council is aware of plans to repair the render and make it safe, but not of anything more substantial," said Jane Griffiths, from Cheltenham Borough Council."The council is aware of plans to repair the render and make it safe, but not of anything more substantial," said Jane Griffiths, from Cheltenham Borough Council.
"We hope that, by highlighting the planning act, the owner will halt any works that may be planned and instead submit a listed building consent application for our consideration.""We hope that, by highlighting the planning act, the owner will halt any works that may be planned and instead submit a listed building consent application for our consideration."
Meanwhile Ms DeSouza is hoping to rally the town's business community to raise £1m "by 4pm" in the hope of keeping the Banksy in Cheltenham.
"It will be off the wall in hours, it will physically be removed that's the urgency," she said.
"I tried to stall and buy more time for us but he's just not budging."
Although the current owner has "not guaranteed" he will sell it, Ms DeSouza said it was "worth a shot" trying to raise the money to "make an attractive offer".
"We don't have to have the physical money, we just need to know that enough people have pledged a particular amount to make an offer.
"And if we don't achieve anything, so what, but imagine if we do pull this off - it will be a fantastic part of the story of Cheltenham."
At the beginning of June, Banksy admitted painting it - three miles away from the government communications headquarters, GCHQ.At the beginning of June, Banksy admitted painting it - three miles away from the government communications headquarters, GCHQ.