Neath Port Talbot Council has revealed how much it would have cost to keep the Banksy in the town, after it was revealed it would be moved to England instead.
The Banksy artwork - which stunned the country when it appeared on a garage in 2018 - is set to leave Wales for a new home across the border at a street art exhibition in Peterborough in January.
Questions have always been raised about the future of the artwork since it first appeared before Christmas, 2018, on two sides of a Taibach garage.
Read more: Discover the sad story of the Port Talbot Banksy here.
The council has come under fire since confirming yesterday that the art would be moved from its current location in Ty'r Orsaf.
But its leader has said he wants to "set the record straight on the move" and has revealed how much it would have cost to keep the rare art in the town.
Councillor Ted Latham said it would have cost the local authority in the region of £100,000 a year to loan the work, as well as covering the costs of its removal and installation into a new venue, and continuing to cover the insurance.
He said the estimated cost of removal and relocation to another venue (even without insurance to cover the operation to move it) of Season’s Greetings would be around £50,000.
Ian Lewis, owner of the garage, said at the time of its appearance there that he "didn't know what to do" about the surprise artwork, as thousands of people descended on the town to get a glimpse.
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After sparking widespread interest and Welsh Government-funded around-the-clock security, the artwork was eventually snapped up by Banksy artworks collector John Brandler for six figures.
Brick by brick, the piece was then moved to a new location in Ty'r Orsaf, a development of commercial units in the town's Station Road, where people could view it through the glass.
Mr Brandler was told by the local authority that there were a number of prospective commercial tenants for the unit, and an agreement was formed that the piece could stay until January, 2022.
The council has now confirmed that this agreement will come to an end in January and the Banksy will soon leave the town and is set to appear in a street art exhibition in Peterborough, due to start next month.
Scores of people flocked to see the Banksy after the world famous street artist confirmed he was behind the work that appeared on a town garage overnight three years ago.
It features a boy appearing to enjoy the snow on one wall, then, just around the corner, there's a metal commercial bin with a fire inside. What you initially think is snow, is actually falling ash from the material burning in the bin.
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Councillor Latham said: “I feel that because of the range of misinformation that is currently circulating regarding the impending departure of the Banksy mural Season’s Greetings, it is now appropriate to set the record straight.
“When the council made enquiries as to plans for the piece, given the temporary arrangement to house it at Pobl’s Ty’r Orsaf building is due to end in January next year, the council was informed it would now be moved to Peterborough where an exhibition of street art is due to be held, starting from next month.
“Discussions were held on future arrangements and the potential for the work to remain in Port Talbot, but the council was informed it would have to meet the costs of its removal and installation into the new venue, to continue to cover the insurance and to pay a fee in the region of £100,000 per year for the loan of the work.
“It has been estimated the cost of removal and relocation to another venue (even without insurance to cover the operation to move it) of Season’s Greetings would be around £50,000.”
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