On Friday last week in the House of Commons, I asked the Minister of State for the Arts, Ed Vaizey MP, if he supported our campaign to save the Banksy artwork, that was recently removed from Payers Park, for the people of Folkestone. Below you can read the account taken from the official parliamentary record of my question and his response
Damian Collins: Does the Minister agree that it is a matter of great regret that the Banksy artwork was removed from Folkestone, instead of being on public display?
Ed Vaizey: Yes, I do agree. Sometimes it makes one wonder about the motivation of one’s fellow man that, when Banksy is prepared to be public spirited enough to create community artwork in public spaces for the benefit of the local population who take it to their hearts, somebody should seek to use that windfall because it happens to be on their private property. I very much hope it will be returned and donated to the community in Folkestone and Hythe, showing the same public-spirited approach that Roger De Haan has shown in supporting and regenerating Folkestone.