DESPICABLE and cowardly was how one campaigner dubbed the decision to demolish the Chartist Mural two days ahead of a demonstration in its support.

Peter Rawcliffe, of the Save the Chartist Mural Campaign, said 4,100 people signed a petition due to be handed to the council on Saturday.

He said: “It’s very convenient two days before the demonstration. It’s just despicable – it is a cowardly act for them to do it before the demonstration.”

The son of mural artist Kenneth Budd, Oliver Budd, expressed his sadness at the destruction of the mosaic. He said: “It is possibly a case of doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons.”

Yesterday, Henrietta Billings of the 20th Century Society, which made a failed call to Cadw for the mural to be listed, said the demolition ahead of the demonstration was “startling”.

Concerns were expressed by Labour backbench councillors yesterday.

Stow Hill Labour councillor Cllr Miqdad al-Nuaimi said: “I’m surprised at the speed this is happening.”

Lliswerry Cllr Alan Morris was extremely sad to see the memorial to the Chartists go: “Without them people like me would never have been given the chance to vote.”

Cllr Chris Evans, of Rogerstone ward, said: “At this stage I am astonished.”

Cllr Rhys Hutchings, of St Julians, said: “I want to know who said it was all right to demolish it and I want to know why.”

Senior Tory Cllr David Fouweather said it was a poor move ahead of the demo: “Did council leader Bob Bright know this was happening, if he did, why didn’t he announce it?”