RUDE graffiti that has gone up alongside a work by the street artist Banksy will be cleaned up.
The wall of Reading Gaol has had its own ballad thanks to the installation of an artwork by the famous artist in February 2021. Called Create Escape, the piece was vandalised, repaired and then protected with a Perspex screen.
It has been attracting visitors to the town and helped raised awareness of the Save Reading Gaol campaign.
However, vandals have struck again, this time spray painting the word ‘Wankersy’ close to the famous artwork.
Although the Ministry of Justice owns the Reading Gaol site, including its walls , it is Reading Borough Council’s anti-graffiti team that will be visiting to scrub it out.
A spokesperson said: “This is obviously disappointing to see.
“While the wall is in private ownership and everyday graffiti removal like this would usually be chargeable, due to the offensive nature of it on this occasion it will be removed free of charge later today.”
The protective covering over the Banksy was meant to be a stop gap while the future of the gaol was determined. The artist created the work in a bid to convince the Ministry to let the town have the site and turn it into an arts centre.
It is not known what will happen to the artwork once the sale has been completed.
The council spokesperson said: “As far as the Council is aware the Reading prison site remains in the ownership of the Ministry of Justice at this time, which means the current and future protection of Banksy’s artwork falls under its remit.
“From the Council’s perspective, we would obviously want to see it given protection and rightful prominence as part of any future proposal for this site, along with the enormous historical and cultural significance of the prison site as a whole.”
