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TikTok's Spudman petition hits 100,000 in pitch row

More than 100,000 people have now signed an online petition, started to support TikTok star Spudman who thought he had been forced off his pitch for good. Ben Newman's regular pitch is being turned into a flowerbed as part of work to improve St Editha's Square in Tamworth, Staffordshire, he said. The borough council has now told him that once the revamp is finished vendors would be welcomed back and Spudman would be "just a few metres" from his original spot. Mr Newman, who has four-million followers on TikTok, has been credited with bringing more visitors to the town off the back of his fame. In a post on the site after meeting council officials on Tuesday, Spudman said the chief executive of Tamworth Borough Council was a "nice man" who had "apologised for the miscommunication" that had left him thinking he had lost his pitch forever. He said the authority had assured him he was "safe" on the square, and "that's a relief on my front. That makes me want to stay in Tamworth - that makes me happy". He added there was no promise he could keep his exact spot, after the council told him it needed to be converted to improve drainage. "They are going to go away and talk to the engineers, site designers and builders and see what they can do," Mr Newman said. Spudman had previously said the spot was important because of the views it afforded of the church, enabling fans take nice pictures. In a statement after the row first blew up, council leader Carol Dean said: "We very much value small local businesses in Tamworth. One such local business is the much-loved Spudman." She added the redevelopment of St Editha's Square – which includes the new town centre college campus – would also bring hundreds of people into the town daily. Spudman was awarded the freedom of the borough last year, in recognition of his entrepreneurship and innovation. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. TikTok's Spudman 'loses town centre spot' Tater TikTok-er takes town by storm Spudman - TikTok