Banksy fans have been left furious after builders began dismantling the elusive street artist’s iconic goat piece next to Kew Bridge.
The graffiti from the anonymous artist has only been in place across the south west London scene since August – and has become a beloved part of the tight-knit community.
But today builders were installing metal scaffolds around the section of the wall containing the artwork as they prepared to take it away.
The goat is being removed by Fine Art Restoration, a company who have worked on ‘dozens’ of Banksys in the past.
The building work at the site, which is now a gun factory owned by Boss and Company Bows and Company, is expected to take place over the course of the week.
It is thought the piece will be taken to Carlisle to be restored.
The owners of the building on which the goat is painted said that the artwork is being ‘carefully removed’ to protect it while work is being done on the property.
Another floor and a new roof are set to be added in the extensive building project.
The owners have said they will ‘explore options for its future display so it can continue to be appreciated’ once the building works are complete.
One man, who works at the building, refused to tell MailOnline that it was being removed – instead saying it was being ‘protected while we’re having some building work done’.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said residents are ‘very, very fond’ of the piece.
‘People come from all over the world to see it’, they said.
‘There were times during the summer when there were film crews from every continent. We’re very, very fond of it.
‘It’s a real tourist attraction. All the way through since August we’ve had tourists coming. It’s been huge fun.’
‘They say they’re planning to take it to Carlisle to restore it and then put it back. But we don’t believe them.
Some residents are joking that the company will just ‘flog it’ or ‘they will come up with some excuse for not putting it back on the wall.’
Genesis and Jana De la Rosa, 38 and 37, who live in nearby Chiswick, say they regularly run past the famed piece.
Jana said: ‘It’s a community area and it’s really sad to see it go. It’s been really nice to see it every day and we’ll miss it when it’s gone.’
Another resident added: ‘The point of Banksy is that it’s supposed to be for the people.
‘It’s really sad that it’s being taken away from Kew, especially from the bridge where so many people see it everyday’.
Gabriel Gasco, 40, said he had loved having the Banksy on the bridge – and thought it was wrong that it was being taken away.
The building manager said: ‘I believe that they shouldn’t take it. If it’s not on the house, what’s the point of it. It’s a real shame.
‘I was impressed that it was this side of the city- usually we don’t get things like this. Most of his artwork is on East. I loved having it here.’
Stuart NacKenzie, 58, lives in Ealing but used to drive past the art every day for work.
He said: ‘The Goat – the Greatest Of All Time – it’s symbolic.
‘It’s sad to see it go because you just feel it’s nice he’s come to your area. I’ll be really sad when it’s gone. It’s such a shame for the area to lose this.’
Alison Kemp, 60, lives on the road the Banksy was painted on and was shocked when she saw the builders working on the wall.
She added: ‘People are very fond of it. It was very exciting when it went up – it was great.
‘I’ve directed lots of tourists who’ve wanted to see it and walk along the river. But not for long obviously – what a shame!
‘It’s a little landmark.’
Another woman, who lives in nearby Twickenham, was shocked as she passed it and saw the art being removed.
She said: ‘It’s been there for months and you pass it – the ethos behind the artwork is that it’s there to be enjoyed publicly.
‘If it’s going to maintain the longevity of the artwork I can see some benefits to it but the whole nature of his artwork is that it’s supposed to be publically accessible for people to enjoy.
‘Also part of it is that it’s on this building at this location – it’s part of the context of it.’
In a statement, the owners of the building said: ‘As part of a long-planned and carefully considered refurbishment of 110 Kew Green, which commenced last year, structural works will begin this week.
‘These works, which include the addition of another floor and a new roof following the granting of planning permission, are essential for the long-term future of the property.
‘The owners recognise the cultural significance of The Goat, a piece by the renowned British artist Banksy, and appreciate the community’s interest in and affection for the artwork.
‘Given the scale of the construction, the decision has been made to carefully remove the artwork to ensure its conservation and protection during the redevelopment process.
‘The removal and conservation will be carried out by specialist art conservators with expertise in preserving street art, ensuring that the piece remains intact and safeguarded.
‘Once the redevelopment is complete, the owners will explore options for its future display so that it can continue to be appreciated.
‘The owners thank the community for their understanding and support as these essential works take place and remain committed to respecting the cultural significance of the artwork.
The piece appeared in August last year and shows the silhouette of a goat balancing on top of some masonry on an exterior wall near Kew Bridge in West London, with debris falling down the side of the building.
It was unveiled as part of an animal-themed spree of artwork across London which included a rhino mounting a Nissan Micra with a traffic cone on its bonnet on Westmore Street in Charlton, a giant fish tank on a police sentry box in the City of London, silhouettes of two elephants with their trunks stretched towards each other on the side of a building in Chelsea and three monkeys looking as though they were swinging underneath a bridge over Brick Lane.
There were also images of a lone wolf howling on a rooftop in Peckham, pelicans pinching fish from a London chip shop sign in Walthamstow and a large cat silhouette on Saturday which was sprayed onto an abandoned billboard in Cricklewood.
The guerilla artist, famed for his politically-themed works, confirmed all the pieces on his Instagram page.
The mystery surrounding Banksy has left people puzzled for decades, but he was unmasked following a MailOnline investigation as Robin Gunningham after an alleged picture of the artist at work was unveiled. His identity has not been officially confirmed.
But his anonymity has caused issues, leaving him stripped of four trademarks on his work – Radar Rat, Girl with Umbrella, Flower Thrower and Laugh now as judges ruled he was ‘acting in bad faith’ by remaining anonymous.
Banksy, who has previously said ‘copyright is for losers’, was told he was acting in ‘bad faith’ because he had ‘departed from accepted principles of ethical behaviours or honest commercial and business practices’.
He is currently facing a bitter legal challenge to take his trademark away from him.
It came after it was revealed the artist never intended to commercialise the pieces when he applied for the legal protection of them.
Judges pointed to the fact that ‘he cannot be identified as the unquestionable owner of such works as his identity is hidden’.
He is currently facing a bitter legal challenge to take his trademark away from him.
The graffiti artist, whose team could be made to go public in court, is being forced to defend his trademark of the word Banksy to sell images and merchandise.
The case is being brought by Full Colour Black, a greeting card company that sells recreations of Banksy’s work, The Sun has reported.
The company owned by Andrew Gallagher has claimed the faceless artist has not used the Banksy trademark and that it should be cancelled for ‘non-use’.
Moreover, one of Banksy’s team will be required to give evidence at a tribunal in the spring to fight against the claims, a source has claimed.
This would be the first time someone would be forced to speak on Banksy’s behalf in public.
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