Protest is last bid to save Newport's Chartist mural

1:20pm Saturday 23rd February 2013 in Gwent news

PROTEST: Some of the campaigners at the Chartist mural in Newport yesterday PROTEST: Some of the campaigners at the Chartist mural in Newport yesterday

ARTS protesters yesterday gathered in a last-ditch attempt to have their voices heard over plans to demolish Newport's iconic Chartist mural to make way for the new city centre development.

The group met in John Frost Square to protest against the loss of the art work, which could go in the coming months as work is set to start on the new Friars Walk development.

Newport council decided last year that the mural would be demolished and recreated on ceramic tiles in Newport Central Library with the permission of the orignial artist Kenneth Budd's son Oliver.

This was after a study found the 35-year-old art work could not be moved from its current location in the tunnel between John Frost Square and Austin Friars.

But its fans are continuing their fight to save it.

Councillor Charles Ferris, said it was a pity it had to be lost.

He said: "If they can move frescoes from walls and Egyptian hieroglyphics from pyramids why can't they move this?"

Comments(11)

Ian MacKinlay says...
7:45pm Sat 23 Feb 13

"Newport council decided last year that the mural would be demolished and recreated on ceramic tiles in Newport Central Library . . ."

This seems to be an example of the left hand of the Council not knowing what the right hand is doing.

Only a week or so ago I read in these pages of the Argus that the Council were considering closing the present main Central Library, icluding the museum, and squeezing the lot into an underused sports hall in the Newport Centre.

I am sure I read this sometime in February, (this month), and I am quite definite that it was not the 1st April !

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Ian MacKinlay says...
8:40pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Further to my earlier post about the Mural’s possible move to the Central Library, I have located the article in the Argus to which I referred.

The article ‘s main headline was “Fears over future of Newport's historic ship” dated 9:25am Thursday 14th February 2013

There is a sub-headling in the middle of this article titled:” Upheaval for Newport Centre”.

It is in this section that the following is printed:

“ “NEWPORT central library and city museum could be moved into Newport Centre.
The scrutiny report also proposed the “relocation and transformation of central library and central museum into a “reconfigured sports hall” and central rooms that are under-utilised”. (sic).

OK. The article does say, on re-reading it, “a reconfigured sports hall and rooms that are under-utilised”.

I hope the Council does not move the Mural to the present Central Library and then have to move it again to the Newport Centre.

Ironically, it was Councillor Ferris who expressed his concern about the possible demise of the Newport Ship, in the same article referred to.

In the article above, it is the same Councillor, Charles Ferris, expressing concern about the mural.

The apparently cavalier way in which our elected representatives perceive Newport’s treasures, such as they are, suggests that there are among them many Philistines.

Hopefully, Councillor Ferris will be able to influence them sufficiently to behave otherwise.

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33daverave says...
8:53pm Sat 23 Feb 13

I don't think Philistines is the appropriate term.
Self serving scumbags hits the spot.

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Robodad says...
7:30am Sun 24 Feb 13

What is all the fuss about? It is a wall in a dingy tunnel which you cannot see properly (or look at long enough because of the smell of urine or disinfectant used to mask the smell), it has had its day, dont waste more council tax money trying to save it, knock it down, move on and be pleased that the area is being redeveloped at last.

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Owain Vaughan says...
11:48am Sun 24 Feb 13

Couldn't agree more Robodad.

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Llanmartinangel says...
11:54am Sun 24 Feb 13

Given the number of muggings that happen in Newport, I'd have thought that hanging about in a tunnel there to admire a mural is a seriously dangerous pastime.

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mer8071 says...
12:31pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Llanmartinangel wrote:
Given the number of muggings that happen in Newport, I'd have thought that hanging about in a tunnel there to admire a mural is a seriously dangerous pastime.
Or any other City or town which has a dark dingy tunnel.

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pbhj says...
12:44pm Sun 24 Feb 13

@Robodad, et al.

I think the idea is to keep the mural but locate it somewhere where it can be enjoyed. Why they ever put it there I don't know.

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pinpong says...
1:01pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Why not locate it downstairs in the civic centre. They have covered over the murals there that were not completed. Great place to put them

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cath 872 says...
2:43pm Sun 24 Feb 13

This mural is horrible. Ive always hated it. The tunnel it's located in is dark and miserable. Nobody looks at it as they walk past. The tunnel itself is covered in birds mess, and leads to John Frost square, an even more depressing site than the mural. Time to move on. Most modern city centres have glass, steel and a lot of light. We should do the same.

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sam tyler says...
1:59pm Mon 25 Feb 13

The best plan would be to demolish the rest of the area but leave the mural

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