Focus on Chartist Mural and explore the Reaction.
The demolition of the mural drew national as well as local condemnation, with Rob Williams of The Independent describing it as "indicative of the lack of regard for Welsh history and the triumph of the brute stupidity and disregard for the views of their constituents that many in authority have." A spokesman for Newport council stated that the mural "has served to remind us of Newport's past, but we must now focus on Newport's future."  The council has said that it will commission "an alternative solution to commemorating the Chartist movement", in a more accessible location. Paul Flynn MP said that "a serious job has to be done to rebuild trust between the people of Newport and its council." The council's Chief Executive, Will Godfrey, apologised to councillors for not informing them in advance of when the demolition was to occur, and stated that the process "was not underhand or undemocratic as has been suggested in some parts of the media".On 18 October Newport-born actor Michael Sheen published a full-page open letter, in local newspaper the South Wales Argus, in which he described the "irony of something that was created to celebrate those who risked much for the good of all, being wiped out without consulting the people themselves, and under the auspices of a Labour-led City Council serving the needs of profit above all else, is both absurd as well as tragic."An editorial in the South Wales Argus on 31 October commented that "there is a lack of transparency and accountability at the top of the council that has now reached a stage where it is damaging Newport's reputation in the outside world.  The timing and manner of the mural demolition was just plain stupid. It resulted in damaging publicity across the media, locally and nationally...". On 26 November, the City Council approved a motion expressing "sincere regret to residents of the city of Newport regarding the handling" of the mural's removal.In November Michael Sheen spoke at a conference in Newport to mark the 175th anniversary of the events, and was invited by city council leader Bob Bright to chair a commission on the proposed replacement of the mural. It was announced that an independent trust would be set up, to commission a new memorial, with £50,000 of funding provided by Newport City Council. It was later clarified that Sheen would serve in an advisory capacity to the commission rather than as a member.In March 2014, former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said that destruction of the Chartist Mural in Newport was "a sad blow for the city". Williams, who lived in Newport for almost 11 years, is one of three members of the commission established by the city council to find a replacement for the mural. He said "It did seem to be a sad blow to something of Newport's self image and self confidence.. There was a real need to gather up literally and figuratively what was left and ask the question: how can Newport now celebrate this crucial part of its history? ... The Chartist legacy is surely one of the great elements in the pride that people ought to take... I did think the destruction of the mural was a great sadness."
Rowan Williams Paul Flynn South Wales Argus archbishop of Canterbury Newport Chartist The Independent Mural mural Newport City Council Michael Sheen