Why was Banksy’s painting removed from Gorleston Beach?

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The council explained its decision to quickly remove a piece of Banksy Street art from a wall near Norfolk Beach.

The elusive graffiti artist spent a short time on the Norfolk Coast and Waveney this month, making his mark on the area with a selection of vibrant works.

However, one of these was quickly removed by Great Yarmouth Borough Council contractors – a painting on one of the walls near Gorleston Beach, shows a drunk man pushing a child into the air in a rubber boat.

With working close to the scene, three-year-old Ava-May Littleboy died after being thrown from an inflatable trampoline, the board made the decision to act quickly and remove it.

In a statement issued Saturday night, a GYBC spokesperson said: “In light of the tragic death of a child in 2018 which involved blowing in close proximity to the Gorleston yacht pool, the illustration at that location has been removed.

“Members of the Council, in good faith, and aware of local sensitivities, worked to cover it as part of their regular regime of inspection and maintenance on the yacht pool.

“However, the Board is confident that the work can be restored and placed in a more suitable alternative location.”

Three-year-old Ava Mae died at Gorleston Beach on July 1, 2018, after the trampoline she was playing exploded.

The council spokesperson added: “We believe in the circumstances it was the right decision, respecting the local people and their feelings.

“We thank Banksy for all the wonderful artwork and fully appreciate these circumstances unknown to the artist.

“We continue to celebrate his gifts to the city and because this is of so much interest, the Council today installed bollards at the bus station shelter at Admiralty Road, Great Yarmouth, and arranged for the protection of all Banksy’s artwork documented in the public domain with perspex covers.

“We are asking visitors to come and enjoy this wonderful work but please respect the locals.”

The artist, who protects his identity by working under a pseudonym only, has created work in Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Cromer while “spraying” – and legitimized by a post on his Instagram page.

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