Banksy’s pledge to save Reading Gaol was discussed in Parliament today.
On Sunday [5/12], it emerged that the mysterious artist, who famously completed a piece of artwork on the outer wall of the prison, was prepared to pledge £10m in order to buy the disused building and turn it into an arts centre.
Reading East MP, Matt Rodda, backs the Save Reading Gaol campaign, and on Wednesday, 8 December put it the matter to the House of Commons.
Matt Rodda requested that the Prisons Minister, Victoria Atkins, met with him to discuss the possibility of the potential sale further.
Above: The stencil Banksy will sell to help fund the bid (pic credit: PA)
She said: “I look forward to seeing how Banksy may represent Reading prison in future artwork, but at the moment I regret that the competition has just closed, and bids are being considered.
“I can’t say anything further on the process, but I will update him and the House as soon as decisions have been made.”
The prison has been disused since 2013 and has been the subject of much speculation regarding its future.
READ MORE: Reading reacts to Banksy’s shock £10m bid for historic Gaol
Together with the artist’s funds, thought to be raised by selling a stencil used to create the mural on the walls of the prison, Reading Borough Council have pledged £2.6m bringing a total bid of approximately £12.6m.
Other stars, including Dame Judi Dench and Kate Winslet, have spoken strongly in the past about turning the site into a centre for the arts.
The prison famously held writer Oscar Wilde in the late- 1800s following his arrest for gross indecency, leading to the poem The Ballard of Reading Gaol being released in 1897.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here