Woman ordered to remove Banksy-style anti-Brexit mural painted by grandchildren from outside of her house Bridget Smith, 82, took ‘great care’ planning the mural, depicting a graffiti artist spraying the words ‘Europe says please don’t go’

A woman has been ordered to remove a Banksy-style anti-Brexit mural painted by her grandchildren from the outside of her house.

Bridget Smith, 82, took “great care” planning the EU-themed mural, depicting a graffiti artist spraying the words “Europe says please don’t go”.

She then asked three of her grandchildren to spray it on her house.

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But North Somerset Council have written to her telling her she must remove it, as it constitutes an “advert”.

Bridget, from Winford, was told she would be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500 if she didn’t remove the mural within 21 days, and that she’d be fined an additional £250 for each day it remained on the wall after this period.

‘Deeply saddened’

“I was astonished and thought it was ridiculous,” she said. “I cannot understand how it can be advertising as I am not selling anything or trying to make money out of it.

“My whole family has personal ties with several European countries.

“I have been deeply saddened by the way Europe has been portrayed in some quarters as a bully and an enemy.

“I wanted to state a fact as I see it, in the hope it might make some people think in a new way.”

The letter stated Bridget was committing an offence under Section 224 of the town and country planning act 1990.

It warned that the council will consider instigating legal proceedings against her “without further warning or correspondence”.

Complaint from resident

Bridget has written to the council asking that they explain how the artwork constitutes an ad, but is yet to receive a reply.

A council spokesperson said it had received a complaint from a fellow resident.

“We have visited the location and sent the householder a letter saying that we deem this to be an advert, and that it is unauthorised. The letter requests that they remove it,” they added.

Bridget has not removed the mural, but her grandchildren – 11, 13 and 15 – have painted over the words and edited the graffiti artist to look like an industrial painter.

‘Positive statement’

She was supposed to have removed it by 25 February, but the council has extended the notice period as it considers whether the painter can remain on the wall without the pro-EU message.

The grandmother insists she was not politically campaigning, but just wanted to make a positive statement at a time of so many negative ones.

“I cannot help wondering whether there is a political element in the council’s reaction,” she said.