Protests aren’t what they used to be

Pictures: Suzannah Evans

This is no way to run a protest. I was invited on Facebook to a demo on an issue close to my heart. The person who invited me did not turn up on time and no one seemed prepared to make a speech to explain the grievance.

The Newport Chartist mural was the brainchild of the Newport Council during the years 1972 to 1984 when I was a City Councillor. The artist used the faces of local officials as models for the soldiers and Chartists of 1839. I am especially fond of the one of Cefni Barnett who was the museum curator in the seventies. The mural is rightly loved by Newportonians.

 

In 2007 there was a threat to demolish it as part of the Modus re-development. Strong protests were made to preserve or relocate the work. The Modus plan collapsed in 2009 so the immediate threat disappeared. Exactly a year ago the Council invited suggestions for the possibility of replacing the work if threatened by new developments. 

Moving it would it prohibitively expensive. It could cost four times the council’s budget. Four alternatives are suggested. The best is probably to re-create it in ceramics in a new indoor location.  Few sensible arguments are possible to this practical pragmatic approach. Leaving it in place in its dark, windswept, deserted canyon is not the best idea.

Many of the people who joined the demo are familiar faces. They are respected campaigners for green and other major issues. Others are not. A number of serial anti-Council and anti-Labour protesters were there. They seemed to be out to blame Newport Council. That’s a hard argument to sustain. Speaking in John Frost Square in the shadow of Chartist Tower alongside the Chartist mural I recalled how Newport Council had long honoured the memory of the Chartists. 

On November 4^th every year a commemoration is held in the cemetery of Newport Cathedral. A week’s events recall the history. We annually re-dedicate ourselves to the Chartist ideals. Chartism is at the core of Newport’s DNA.

Several minutes after the time when the demo was advertised to begin there was no sign of anyone trying to speak. I asked if anyone could explain what the NEW threat is that justifies the protest. A year old press story from the BBC website seems to be the source. Fighting the bitter cold, I tried to make a few points.

No area in the whole of the UK had done more to honour the memory of the Chartists and advance their ideals than Newport. To suggest that the Council would do anything to dis-respect that memory is non-sense on stilts. As an MP I have no locus in these decisions or any power or influence over them. Those who are serious about contributing to practical alternatives should take their views to the council. I hope they do.

I gently pointed out that there are dozens of other issues worth a demo in February 2013. The cruelty of Atos? The handout of subsidies to Hinkley Power Station?  The Privatisation of the NHS? The greed of the bankers? The futility of avoidable wars? The destruction of the Welfare State?  The Ineptocracy that the Coalition is building. When there are so many vital issues, why invent a new grievance?

Meanwhile all my constituents are invited to discuss any parliamentary issues with me at my next public meeting at the Civic Centre, March 7^th at 7.00 pm. As always I will be on hand to debate my responsibilities. Hope to see you there.

 

Comments

[Save Our Chartist Mural Campaign]

Mr. Flynn, you say that: "No area in the whole of the UK had done more to honour the memory of the Chartists and advance their ideals than Newport. To suggest that the Council would do anything to disrespect that memory is nonsense on stilts."

In light of the official planning documentation we have cited on our campaign page (http://www.facebook.com/SaveOurMural), can you please tell us how the Council's plans - to demolish the Chartists Mural and dump it in a skip - can be considered anything other than disrespectful to the memory of these men? Men who died for the democracy we all enjoy today and that pays you a handsome wage, not to mention your expenses...

If Birmingham managed to successfully relocate Kenneth Budd's JFK Mural (4.5m × 14m!) during the development of its city then can you please tell us why the council for your constituency is incapable of doing the same for Budd's Chartist Mural? Ref: http://youtu.be/nkZG0z4BvLE and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._F._Kennedy_Memorial,_Birmingham

Regards,

Save Our Mural
(http://twitter.com/SaveOurMural)

PS. We now have over 1,200 petitioners and hundreds of comments in support for the saving of our mural: http://www.change.org/en-GB/organisations/save_our_mural - our supporters would appreciate your joining our cause and signing up too.

[Paul Flynn]

Copy of Letter received:

This issues should be dead by now. The mural was inspected to see if could be removed whole and then refitted in the new shopping complex- if it ever gets built.

The result of the survey was that this could not be done so the only way it could be restored would be piece by piece like a roman archeological dig.

The cost of this would be enormous so a decision was made to take high resolution photos of the site that could then be prominently displayed in the new shopping centre.

Of course this was in 2007-08 this has gone off the agenda since.

It would be better to commission a new Chartist artwork than spend cash on moving it.

This has brought mixed reactions of course