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Cheltenham Banksy artwork 'belongs to the government' | Cheltenham Banksy artwork 'belongs to the government' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Banksy artwork painted on a Cheltenham house belongs to the Department for Transport, a retired chartered surveyor claims. | A Banksy artwork painted on a Cheltenham house belongs to the Department for Transport, a retired chartered surveyor claims. |
Campaigners trying to stop the "Spy Booth" artwork from being removed say they have proof the wall it is on is owned by the government. | Campaigners trying to stop the "Spy Booth" artwork from being removed say they have proof the wall it is on is owned by the government. |
The work depicting men "snooping" on a phone box appeared in April three miles from government listening post GCHQ. | The work depicting men "snooping" on a phone box appeared in April three miles from government listening post GCHQ. |
A Department of Transport spokesman said it was looking into the claims. | A Department of Transport spokesman said it was looking into the claims. |
Last month it was claimed the stencilled work had been sold by the owners of the house, on the corner of Fairview Road and Hewlett Road, and would be removed. | Last month it was claimed the stencilled work had been sold by the owners of the house, on the corner of Fairview Road and Hewlett Road, and would be removed. |
It was covered up with panels when a team of workmen came to remove it, but earlier this month Cheltenham Borough Council issued a stop notice preventing further removal work from taking place on the Grade II* listed building. | It was covered up with panels when a team of workmen came to remove it, but earlier this month Cheltenham Borough Council issued a stop notice preventing further removal work from taking place on the Grade II* listed building. |
Local campaigners have been trying to raise money to buy the artwork to allow it to stay in situ. | Local campaigners have been trying to raise money to buy the artwork to allow it to stay in situ. |
Retired chartered surveyor Phil Jones said a Land Registry title proved the wall was owned by the secretary of state for transport. | Retired chartered surveyor Phil Jones said a Land Registry title proved the wall was owned by the secretary of state for transport. |
He said the external wall on which the Banksy was painted used to be the internal wall of another house, the rest of which was demolished about 50 years ago. | He said the external wall on which the Banksy was painted used to be the internal wall of another house, the rest of which was demolished about 50 years ago. |
"It was a house previously acquired circa 1960, which was knocked down for road improvements," he said. | "It was a house previously acquired circa 1960, which was knocked down for road improvements," he said. |
"The government should acknowledge that they own it and that it's in the public realm for the benefit of the people of Cheltenham." | |
The owner of the house, Roger Wilson, said he was taking legal advice about the ownership of the wall. |
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