A ROADSIDE mural which has raised nearly £1,000 towards a little boy's life-changing surgery will be removed after complaints from residents.
The colourful creation was sprayed on to the side of Gracie's Dress Agency in Lesbourne Road, Reigate, in August by graffiti artist Uncle Stubble, to help raise money for the Hope For Isaac campaign.
The campaign is run by Louise Elliott from Reigate. She is trying to raise £40,000 so her one-year-old son Isaac, who suffers from cerebral palsy, can have an operation only available in America which could considerably improve his quality of life.
Redhill artist Uncle Stubble – real name Tim Stiling – was asked to paint the mural by Miss Elliott to help raise funds, and he quickly agreed.
But Miss Elliott says that Jeanine Boobyer, owner of Gracie's, received a phone call from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council last month, informing her they had received a small number of complaints about the artwork, which led the pair to consider removing it.
Miss Elliott told the Mirror: "It was only a temporary thing anyway, just to raise awareness, but it was going to come down this month because there were a few complaints to the council."
But after posting on Facebook that the mural might need to be removed, an outpouring of public support and outrage convinced the women to keep it for a while longer.
Miss Elliot said: "Jeanine's been really supportive. It was always meant to be temporary, but when I put it on Facebook people went mental. People were saying, 'I can't believe people complain about this'."
She also says the mural's presence led to a surge in donations to Isaac's cause.
"We've probably had about £700 that I can see in the donations but then there were also anonymous donations and they were around the time that it was put up there."
Now, instead of removing the colourful art immediately, Uncle Stubble has arranged for his friend, Mark O'Conner, to paint over it in early January – dressed only in a mankini, a male bikini made famous by the television and movie character Borat.
Uncle Stubble says he is still enjoying the mural's long-lasting effects.
He told the Mirror: "I love it; it's a brilliant thing when you get told teachers are taking their kids there to teach children about art and the use of colour.
"People get so much more out of it than we thought they would.
"It's touched people and it's got people talking which was the main thing. It's nice to see a bit of colour in dull old Reigate but it was never going to last.
"That is how it is these days. It only takes one or two complaints and then the council are sort of on your case. It doesn't really matter how many people love it.
"I would say I do not like McDonald's but it's everywhere and I can't close every one.
"Even if you do not like the mural you must be able to see the point of it being there. It's a nice place for a lot of people and I can't see how people can't see that.
"But some people do just see house prices, but that's life."
The painting-over of Isaac's mural will take place on January 4. For more information go to www.facebook.com/events/798366103553158
To donate to the Hope for Isaac campaign visit www.justgiving.com/Hope4isaac
