A council has said that it will look at trying to preserve one of Carlisle’s first pieces of street art after concerns were raised over its potential loss.

Carlisle-based photographer Allan Blackett expressed his sadness over the prospect of the city losing “inspirational” street art piece piece, Butterfly Girl.

The piece – street artist Tabby’s first mural in Carlisle – which is located on the side of Paton House on Victoria Viaduct looks set to be lost for good after permission for the demolition of the building, subject to conditions, was granted in February 2021.

“It would be awful,” said Allan.

“For many years we didn’t have street art in Carlisle.”

He called the piece on the side of Paton House, which depicts a girl in a yellow dress surrounded by an array of butterflies, “beautiful”.

“It really does brighten the place up and people do go and take photos of it,” said Allan.

Pieces like Butterfly Girl and Banana Bomb – depicting a soldier carrying a bomb, who is about to step on a banana skin – both unveiled in 2018, have been instrumental in inspiring an “explosion” of street art in Carlisle, according to Allan.

He added: “I think they were inspirational.

“Since then, there has been an explosion of street art. There are some amazing pieces in Carlisle, but people aren’t really aware of them.

“It’s really regenerated certain areas of town.”

The demolition of Paton House is set to make way for a £77.5 million Carlisle Citadels regeneration project.

Stephen Higgs, Carlisle City councillor and portfolio holder for culture leisure and heritage, admitted that it would be a “pity” to see the piece go, but added that the demolition of Paton House was necessary.

He said: “It has gone past the point of being able to be brought back to use.

“It’s a pity it’s past its best and I think anyone looking at it would think that.

“If we can save the Butterfly Girl I would love it and I am sure we will look at it quickly to see if that is what we can do.”

Landmark Street Art worked with Tabby to bring pieces like Butterfly Girl to Carlisle.

Ben Heslop, owner and director of Landmark Street Art, Ben Heslop said: “We are in the industry of street art and we know all the limitations of that.

“We understand that as soon as we walk away from a piece, it’s more the city’s than ours.

“Many of the greatest works by the greatest street artists are now no longer there and that can make them immortalised in history. It’s always sad to see a piece go that is so liked by the public, but it’s the nature of street art.

“Because that was the first piece we did in the city, it seems like it’s more important, but they’re all as important as each other.

“We would rather it was there, but it will open opportunities to produce new work in new areas” Ben hinted that the development of a new piece in the city could soon be on the horizon.

He added: “We would never replace a piece like for like, but we can always add a story to every one that we do.

“We already have plans afoot that Butterfly Girl - in some form - will not disappear from the city for ever.

“Tabby is very keen to keep his art work in the city, because he feels the city has supported him for many years.”

A council spokesman for Carlisle City Council said: “We are aware of the artwork and are working with the contractor to establish whether it can be removed intact.”