Banksy fans have been left furious as builders begin to dismantle the iconic goat art work next to landmark Kew Bridge.
The graffiti from the anonymous artist has been in place across the south west London scene since August – and has become a beloved part of the tight-knit community.
But today builders were installing metal scaffolds around the section of the wall containing the artwork as they prepared to take it away.
The goat is being removed by Fine Art Restoration, a company who have worked on ‘dozens’ of Banksys in the past.
The building work at the site, which is now a gun factory owned by Boss and Company Bows and Company, is expected to take place over the course of the week.
It is thought the piece will be taken to Carlisle to be restored.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said residents are ‘very, very fond’ of the piece.
‘People come from all over the world to see it’, they said.
‘There were times during the summer when there were film crews from every continent. We’re very, very fond of it.
Builders were seen installing metal scaffolds around the section of the wall containing the artwork as they prepared to take it away
The artists piece in London features the goat silhouette with rocks falling down below it
It is thought the piece will be taken to Carlisle to be restored
A specialist team of builders have been brought in to remove the Banksy Goat from the side of the building on Kew Bridge
Images show the team sectioning off the area where the art was sprayed last summer
Residents are said to be furious over the removal of the artwork, which is beloved in the area
Jana De la Rosa, 37 and Genesis 38Locals have been left furious as builders have started to remove the beloved goat Banksy
Banksy unveiled the piece of artwork near Kew Bridge in West London in August of last year
Banksy has revealed a new artwork featuring a goat perched on top of a wall in West London
‘It’s a real tourist attraction. All the way through since August we’ve had tourists coming. It’s been huge fun.’
‘They say they’re planning to take it to Carlisle to restore it and then put it back. But we don’t believe them.
Some residents are joking that the company will just ‘flog it’ or ‘they will come up with some excuse for not putting it back on the wall.’
Genesis and Jana De la Rosa, 38 and 37, who live in nearby Chiswick, say they regularly run past the famed piece.
Jana said: ‘It’s a community area and it’s really sad to see it go. It’s been really nice to see it every day and we’ll miss it when it’s gone.’
Another resident added: ‘The point of Banksy is that it’s supposed to be for the people.
‘It’s really sad that it’s being taken away from Kew, especially from the bridge where so many people see it everyday’.
The piece appeared in August last year and shows the silhouette of a goat balancing on top of some masonry on an exterior wall near Kew Bridge in West London, with debris falling down the side of the building.
The guerilla artist, famed for his politically-themed works, confirmed the piece on his Instagram page and there has been much speculation about its meaning.
MailOnline has contacted the building owners for comment.
