'All options' considered for Banksy's flag statue

Westminster City Council has said it is "exploring all options" for the future of Banksy's Blinded by the Flag statue in central London.

The street artist erected the statue of a man marching off a plinth with his face covered by a flag at Waterloo Place on 29 April.

Discussions about the artwork's future were held in the summer, but no decision was made. It will be discussed at an upcoming cabinet meeting, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.

The council has described itself as the statue's custodian and said it had been in contact with the street artist's team. Banksy owns the copyright but the council is responsible for the cost of keeping the statue safe.

A council spokesperson said: "Over the summer the council has been exploring all options for the Banksy Statue in Waterloo Place. No formal decision has been made about its long-term future."

The spokesperson did not state what options were being considered.

The statue is located just off the Mall and is near the statue of Florence Nightingale and Crimean War Memorial.

Critics interpreted the statue as a commentary on the consequences of blind allegiance to symbols.

In response to a Freedom of Information request from the BBC in August, the council said it had spent almost £60,000 on safety barriers, administration and for a security guard to keep watch over it.

The artwork is largely undisturbed however its plinth has been defaced with a spray-painted tag.

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