Railway station cat to get memorial bronze statue
The Adventures of NalaA bronze memorial statue of a cat will be installed at a railway station she used to visit.
Nala became an internet sensation by greeting commuters while perched on a ticket barrier at Stevenage railway station, in Hertfordshire, before her death in December.
The 5.5ft (1.7m) sculpture will be on the walkway connecting the town's Arts and Leisure Centre with the station, after hundreds of messages of support were sent to the council from across the UK and overseas.
Plans were approved by Stevenage Borough Council's planning committee on Tuesday.
Ben Twiston-DaviesMP Kevin Bonavia said: "As people arrive in Stevenage for years to come, Nala will continue to welcome them in her own special way and remind us of the unique community spirit that makes our town such a special place."
Planning officer Ailsa Davis said the statue would sit on a pedestal "designed to resemble a station ticket barrier".
It will be paid for through a crowdfunding campaign and created by artist Ben Twiston-Davies, who has offered his services for free.
Nala's owner, Natasha Ambler, set up the Facebook page The Adventures of Nala in October 2023, which quickly grew to 25,000 followers.
That year she released a Christmas single with proceeds donated to the RSPCA and homelessness charity Feed Up Warm Up.
After Nala's death, Ambler said she had "lost a member of the family".
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