AN ARTIST who designed a stained glass window in Newport Market says covering it up with a developer’s branding would be “an act of cultural hooliganism”.

Catrin Jones fears developers Loft-Co, who were given planning permission to revamp the market this week, fail to recognise the significance of the 120m2 stained glass feature.

Commissioned by Newport City Council as part of a refurbishment of the market in 2003, Ms Jones says it is largest stained glass window in Wales and represents “a significant work of public art in the UK”.

South Wales Argus:

The stained glass window in Newport Market

But as part of a £12-million revamp of the market, Loft-Co propose “to cover it over with a new window film”, with a company logo to provide new branding in the hall.

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A planning statement adds this will be “fully reversible” and that the artwork could be “uncovered at a later date”.

While permission has been granted for the market redevelopment, a planning condition says no work can be carried out on the stained glass window until full details have been submitted by the developer and approved by the council.

Ms Jones is urging the council to refuse the proposal to cover the window, which she says is “effectively no different from its removal, since it will preclude future public appreciation”.

“There is no architectural or aesthetic justification for removing the window, and there are plenty of reasons to preserve and cherish the existing glass,” said Ms Jones, a decorative glass artist who has produced work for The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre and recently the new Grange University Hospital.

“This window is a significant element in Newport’s present and future cultural heritage.

“To replace it with the developer’s own branding would be an act of cultural hooliganism.”

South Wales Argus:

Catrin Jones says covering up the window with a developer's branding would be "an act of cultural hooliganism"

In a submission to the council’s planning department, Ms Jones said she fears developers do not understand the significance of the feature, as a previous planning statement appeared to mistakenly say it is made with film and that it could be “removed and replaced”.

But the artwork was created using ceramic enamels fused onto the clear glass and is permanent.

“The city of Newport lost an important work of public art when the Chartist mosaic mural was destroyed in 2013,” she said.

“It would be a considerable disappointment if another major work were to be lost now.”

Simon Fenoulhet, who organised the commission for the window on behalf of Newport council in 2003, said the “highly original proposal” has made “a huge visual improvement”.

“Newport needs to assert its ownership and pride in the artworks that it has commissioned, with public money, for the people of Newport and make sure that people who use the market in the future can continue to enjoy Catrin’s wonderful artwork,” he said.

Simon Baston, managing director of Loft-Co, said: “As with local authority guidelines we will now work through the relevant condition.”