A POPULAR mural in Malmesbury is under threat, after a member of the public complained about it to Wiltshire Council, it has been reported.

The 24-foot high spray painting of a koala bear was designed by Luke Hollingworth, a street artist who produces under the name Syd, to brighten up a previously grey wall on the side of a children’s nursery.

“The Malmesbury Koala is one of my proudest moments with a spray can,” said Luke.
“[It’s] a little hug on the corner of small towns street, adorning the walls of a fantastic small nursery.

“Sadly Wiltshire Council have received a complaint and have judged the artwork to be one large advert and not art, though the painted mural has no business name, no phone number and no web address.”

Luke has set up an online petition to show the council the support and love there is for the koala in the face of the solitary complaint.

“I understand that street art of this scale may not be to everyone’s taste but this petition aims at gathering the positive comments of Malmesbury people or just street art fans in general,” he said.

“The more positive comments can only help our cause in keeping the koala on this ancient town’s street.

“The petition will be submitted to Wiltshire Council by K & S Childcare along with retrospective planning permission for advertising though we don’t want to do this, but our hands are tied.”

Steve Paginton runs the nursery with his wife Karen and says he has received what he described as an “aggressive” email from the council, telling him he had 48 hours remove the mural or face prosecution.

“The council deem it an advertisement, but I have a job to understand that to be honest,” he said.
“We had a letter which we replied to, then we had an aggressive email from the enforcement officer. That’s when Luke decided to start the petition up.

“Though we don’t consider it an advert the only thing we can do is apply for advertising permission on the building, which is almost like we’re agreeing, which we don’t.

“The children will be heartbroken if it has to be covered.”

Mary Dodd lives in Malmesbury and is frustrated by the council’s action.

She said: “What I want to know is when was it decided that one single complaint was enough to make the council demand this mural be removed, when sometimes petitions of 50,000 can't change government policies?”

Vicki Roberts commented on the petition saying: “I love this artwork, it brightens up a dreary corner of a beautiful town.

“It makes me smile every time I drive past. Keep the koala.”

Rob Needham said: “Jesus, really, am I having to sign a petition about keeping some great art on the side of a house that looks after lots of kiddies.

“Get real council and let it be; it's great for the town.”

The petition is available to sign via ipetitions.com/petition/keep-the-koala-street-art/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=button