www.thecnj.co.uk/islington/2008/060608/inews060608_03.htmlA last minute reprieve for Banksy’s boy
Wall featuring world-famous works saved from demolition – but is it set to go under the hammer?
A CELEBRATED painting by guerilla artist Banksy has been temporarily saved from demolition, the Tribune can reveal.
The news follows a decision by the council to reject plans to demolish two buildings on the corner of Wakley Street and Goswell Road and replace them with two seven storey blocks of flats and student rooms.
The buildings sport two celebrated artworks, a Banksy painting of a young boy holding a paintbrush and a comic-strip stencil by well-known New York collective Faile.
Both have been mysteriously boarded up, but despite rumours the building’s owners hope to sell them, they were unavailable for comment.
The Banksy wall has become a cultural hotspot pictured in guide books and featuring on posters.
In January this year, another wall touched by the rogue artist’s hand sold for £200,000 on auction website eBay.
Now, neighbours and residents are calling on the council to step in and preserve the work for good.
Both works were inadvertently rescued on Monday after members of the council’s South area planning committee rejected the plans.
But Councillor Martin Klute, who sat on the committee at Finsbury Town Hall, said the Banksy was not mentioned anywhere in the planning application.
Martin Klute: “I don’t think anyone’s decided what they are going to do with them.
“It’s an intriguing conundrum. It was not referred to in the planning application.
“The council should do something about it and when the application comes before the committee again we should look at putting aside section 106 (cash from the developer) money to preserve them. That would be a very good cause.”
Neighbour, physicist Linda Edwards-Shea, who lives in Frederick’s Row said: “They’ve been covered up for quite a while now, presumably because they want to sell them. It’s a beautiful work, which shouldn’t be called graffiti – it’s witty and chic. I’d like to see them stay.”
And Shahid Haji, who lives next door, said: “I walk past the every day. I think they are going to take the wall out and sell it. It’s a disgrace, I’d rather have them here.”
But council deputy leader Councillor Terry Stacy said: “I love Banksy’s work and would love these pieces of art to stay in Islington for everyone to enjoy.
“But they belong to the site owner and it’s really up to him what he wants to do with them, although obviously
“I’d be very pleased if he’d let them stay.
Resident Leo Chapman said: “The council’s conservation section should look into this work in view of the artistic fame Banksy has acquired.
“His works may come to be regarded as quite important, if not already so. If possible, they should be retained in the borough.”
And former mayor Joe Trotter said: “They are becoming popular artworks. The council should save them. We should put them in a museum instead of knocking them down.”
Councillors turned down applicant John Dorrian’s plans to demolish the two buildings on the corner of Goswell Road and Wakley Street because they said the development was too big.
Residents of Fredericks Row objected to the plans, fearing they would be heavily overshadowed by the scale of the scheme.
Resident Ms Edwards-Shea said: “We really want something to be built there that’s not too dense.
“Our hearts sank when this came through. I don’t believe families or children’s amenities should be a slave to commercial gain.”
