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Newport Chartist mural: Two hundred at demolition protest | Newport Chartist mural: Two hundred at demolition protest |
(about 5 hours later) | |
About 200 campaigners have protested at the site of a demolished mural after failing to have it preserved. | |
The artwork depicted the 1839 Chartist uprising in a subway off John Frost Square in Newport was created in the 1978. | The artwork depicted the 1839 Chartist uprising in a subway off John Frost Square in Newport was created in the 1978. |
But Newport council removed the 35m (115ft) mosaic as part of a £100m shopping centre development. | But Newport council removed the 35m (115ft) mosaic as part of a £100m shopping centre development. |
It said it would cost £600,000 to save and move the mural. | It said it would cost £600,000 to save and move the mural. |
The diggers moved in on Thursday, a fortnight after heritage body Cadw declined to list the 1970s mosaic which was in a city centre subway off John Frost Square. | The diggers moved in on Thursday, a fortnight after heritage body Cadw declined to list the 1970s mosaic which was in a city centre subway off John Frost Square. |
Pippa Bartolotti from the Wales Green Party said the council demolishing the mural has "woken a sleeping giant". | Pippa Bartolotti from the Wales Green Party said the council demolishing the mural has "woken a sleeping giant". |
'Upset a lot' | 'Upset a lot' |
"It's just a pile of rubbish on the floor," she said. | "It's just a pile of rubbish on the floor," she said. |
"I managed to retrieve some. There's likely to be a couple of hundred (at the protest). I think people have had enough, this has upset a lot of people." | "I managed to retrieve some. There's likely to be a couple of hundred (at the protest). I think people have had enough, this has upset a lot of people." |
Peter Rawcliffe, chair of Save Our Mural, told BBC Radio Wales people are "incandescent" at the council's actions. | Peter Rawcliffe, chair of Save Our Mural, told BBC Radio Wales people are "incandescent" at the council's actions. |
"It's in bits, and we're hoping to be able to make a memorial out of the bits for the people of Newport," he said. | "It's in bits, and we're hoping to be able to make a memorial out of the bits for the people of Newport," he said. |
"We're asking the city council to make a decision to let us have the rest of the mural." | "We're asking the city council to make a decision to let us have the rest of the mural." |
On Thursday protesters shouted at workers as the demolition started, before barriers were pulled down and some people rushed through. | On Thursday protesters shouted at workers as the demolition started, before barriers were pulled down and some people rushed through. |
The mural was created in 1978 by artist Kenneth Budd who used 200,000 pieces of tile and glass. | The mural was created in 1978 by artist Kenneth Budd who used 200,000 pieces of tile and glass. |
It celebrated the bloody rebellion led by the Chartist leader John Frost, a magistrate and mayor of Newport who was forced out of office for his radical views. | It celebrated the bloody rebellion led by the Chartist leader John Frost, a magistrate and mayor of Newport who was forced out of office for his radical views. |
A champion of universal suffrage, he led a march of around 3,000 people in to the town and a confrontation with troops positioned at the Westgate Hotel which left many protesters dead. | A champion of universal suffrage, he led a march of around 3,000 people in to the town and a confrontation with troops positioned at the Westgate Hotel which left many protesters dead. |
Criteria for listing | Criteria for listing |
Frost was convicted of treason and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered but this was commuted to transportation. | Frost was convicted of treason and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered but this was commuted to transportation. |
He survived and later returned to Britain, where he continued to campaign for political reform until his death aged 93. | He survived and later returned to Britain, where he continued to campaign for political reform until his death aged 93. |
Around 4,000 people signed a petition calling for the artwork to be saved. | Around 4,000 people signed a petition calling for the artwork to be saved. |
Wales' heritage body Cadw said the artwork did not meet its "special architectural interest" criteria for listing. | Wales' heritage body Cadw said the artwork did not meet its "special architectural interest" criteria for listing. |
Previously, the artwork faced demolition in 2009 under a development proposal that was later scrapped. | Previously, the artwork faced demolition in 2009 under a development proposal that was later scrapped. |
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. |
A report to the council said there were "real risks that the mural would not survive such a move". | A report to the council said there were "real risks that the mural would not survive such a move". |
A spokeswoman for Newport Council said it would consult with the public on a replacement to mark the Chartists. | A spokeswoman for Newport Council said it would consult with the public on a replacement to mark the Chartists. |