CONTROVERSIAL proposals to demolish Newport's historic Chartist mural to make way for the city's multimillion pound Friars Walk development have resurfaced.

The plans sparked fury among thousands who joined a campaign led by the now conservative councillor Charles Ferris against it in 2007.

The mural was thrown a temporary lifeline when the original Modus Corovest scheme fell through in 2009.

But now with a planning application for a new scheme to be discussed in the coming months, the council is asking residents for their views on what should replace the artwork.

The 34-year-old wall art, built in the tunnel between John Frost Square and Austin Friars, represents the Chartist Uprising of 1839 which ended in bloodshed outside the Westgate Hotel.

Built in 1978 it is 35-metres long and consists of more than 200,000 pieces of broken tile and Venetian smalti.

Whilst the council recognises it is "part of the cultural fabric of Newport" the authority says it will be impossible to preserve and too expensive to reconstruction in its original form.

Instead it is asking residents to chose from one of four options to replace it.

Option one is to recreate it on ceramic tiles within the stairwell of the central library costing £22,000, with the consent of the artist Kenneth Budd's son Oliver.

Alternatively Mr Budd could be commissioned to recreate one section of the original mural to a maximum cost of £50,000, or a reinterpretation of the original could be created and displayed at another city centre location.

Option four suggests creating an alternative Chartist-themed artwork such as an etched stone feature. A model of option 1 will be available to view at Newport Central Library today from 11am to 3pm.

Comments on the proposals can be submitted by visiting newport.gov.uk, e-mailing public.relations@newport.gov.uk or calling 01633 656656.