TONIGHT’S meeting will also see councillors asked whether the Newport council should say sorry over the controversial demolition of the Chartist Mural.

A motion, tabled by opposition Tory councillors, will call on the council to apologise to the residents of Newport residents for the way the mural’s demolition of the mural has been handled, while saying it will do everything possible to ensure the shopping complex scheme progresses.

But much of the potential sting has been taken out of that motion after council leader Bob Bright admitted that the artwork’s destruction could have been handled better, and following the decision to tie in the Friars Walk funding agreement to the meeting. Despite this the Chartist Mural campaign has continued and it is thought that a contingent of protestors will lobby councillors as they enter the Civic Centre for tonight’s full council meeting.

The demolition of the mural, located in a covered alleyway leading from John Frost Square to Upper Dock Street, was originally agreed back in 2012 to prepare for Friars Walk.

But the unannounced nature of the demolition, and the fact that it took place days before a demonstration in support of the art work, sparked residents’ protestsfrom and others.

Some councillors expressed surprise and frustration that they weren’t informed of its demise, something for which council chief executive Will Godfrey later apologised to councillors for not informing them that the demolition was imminent.

Actor Michael Sheen, through an open letter in the Argus, later got involved in the debate and agreed to be a founder trustee of a group to raise funds for a new Chartist memorial.