New Spudman petition launched following Tamworth Council 'u-turn'

A new petition has been launched in aid of Spudman following a council 'u-turn' on Tamworth's regeneration plans.

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A new petition has been launched in aid of Tamworth's Ben Newman, aka Spudman, after a U-turn in council regeneration plans that would have meant the loss of his beloved spot.

The petition was launched after Tamworth Council made changes to their original regeneration plans for St Editha's Square, in Tamworth town centre, meaning Mr Newman could remain on the patch he has used for more than 20 years.

However, a new video was posted by the potato legend, saying that a new cement bench would cause a safety issue if he were to return to his original spot.

Ben Newman The Spudman — Ben Newman - The Spudman

Now, a new petition has been launched by Tamworth Councillor Robert Pritchard, calling on Tamworth Council to 'uphold their commitments' to reinstate Spudman's original patch when the regeneration opens in May 2025.

Launching the petition, Councillor Robert Pritchard said: "An unfortunate u-turn on this promise has caused distress and resentment amongst us, supporters and benefactors of Ben Newman’s contributions.

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"Independent traders like Spudman are the lifeblood of Tamworth; they bolster our local economy and foster a unique sense of community that cannot be replicated by any corporation."

More than 716 people signed the petition in only one day since the petition launched, with many taking to the comment section to call for the potato man's return.

Tamworth Council released an update on the situation, saying that they are 'actively working' with Mr Newman to 'understand' the concerns he may have.

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Stephen Gabriel, chief executive for Tamworth Council Borough Council, said: "We're actively working with Mr Newman to understand his perspective and address any concerns he may have. We value his contribution to our town centre and are committed to finding solutions that work for everyone.

"Traders bring character and vitality to our town centre, and we very much look forward to traders once again back on the square when the works are complete at the end of May."

For more information on the petition, or to add your signature, visit the change.org website.