£3m bill to save B of the Bang

Exclusive Yakub Qureshi

February 04, 2009

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THE controversial B of the Bang sculpture could be SAVED - and rebuilt at a cost of up to £3m.

Council bosses say the trouble-prone structure will be pulled down as planned.

But they insist it will be rebuilt and put back up in the same place, or at another site at the SportCity complex.

The council says it cannot yet reveal where the extra cash will come from to fund the project, although it insists taxpayers will not foot the bill.

A spokesman said: "In view of the continuing costs of maintaining the sculpture, the option being promoted is to dismantle the sculpture with a view to reinstating it as an integral part of the future SportCity development once design and structure issues have been resolved and all are satisfied it is safe."

But opposition politicians have branded the structure an expensive flop and say money would be better spent elsewhere.

The U-turn is contained in a report to go before senior councillors, calling for the 180ft sculpture to be taken apart piece-by-piece for a full repair. It will then be reassembled.

Council bosses took designer Thomas Heatherwick and several contractors to court last year, securing a £1.7m settlement. Some of the cash has already been spent trying to implement repairs, with £1m of the sum now remaining.

The M.E.N revealed in November, following the settlement, that the sculpture would be consigned to the scrapheap. But the council report insists it could be re-born once repair work is complete.

The unique sculpture was hailed as a lasting monument of Manchester's 2002 Commonwealth Games triumph, when it opened to the public in January 2005, nearly two years late. But it was soon dogged by structural problems, with several of its needle-sharp spikes breaking off.

A report by experts says the problem can be fixed by replacing the steel spikes with ones made from a lighter material but costs would be between £2m-£3m.

Lib Dem leader Simon Ashley said: "If they take it down, I would be very surprised if the B of the Bang ever sees the light of day again. And good riddance to it."

Artist's plea to save sculpture

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Jay B, oldham (04/02/2009 at 09:33)

why? even though the price of scrap metal has dropped its probably still worth more getting rid than trying to save this.

this is a prime example of manchester city council! useless, expensive and still they try messising this up more and costing the tax payer money!

umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT (04/02/2009 at 10:59)

If you take it down why waste the money, scrap the thing....it was an eyesore!!

personally, I would move the athlete on top of the world outside the Athletics stadium to there at least it is am more pleasing statue.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (04/02/2009 at 11:37)

J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock (04/02/2009 at 11:38)

Once this thing comes down it should be consigned to the scrap heap and forgotten about.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (04/02/2009 at 11:40)

Let me once "AGAIN" Fortell the future of this sculpture if they rebuild it on another site? IT WILL FAIL The full concept/design of the sculpture is wrong.So it would be better for the money to be spent on another sculpture rather than waste yet even more of the ratepayers money on this useless metal object.Or redesign the sculpture and save the ratepayers millions. If MCC want some ideas all they need is to contact me? But that would be to easy and no doubt would mean they were wrong..As usual.......Scrap the bang totally or it will cost the ratepayers more on maintainance over the years than its worth "PUT IT TO THE VOTE" Let the people of east manchester vote.

Kurt Stephens (04/02/2009 at 11:46)

Get the rich arabs whose football play out of the council house to pay for it to be fixed, they have enough dosh to splash.

Trueman (04/02/2009 at 11:47)

Its without a doubt the most hideous sculpture i've ever seen.

Get Davidsons scrap to come and collect the ugly thing.

2009 and still no resignations?, Manc Land (04/02/2009 at 12:05)

awwww...bless MCC they thought this was their legacy in Manchester for years and years, but all its turned out to be was the 'Millennium Dome' of the North West

hehe...can't help but laugh though :)

gerts, South Manchester (04/02/2009 at 13:11)

£3M quid !!!!! What a farce. Taxpayers won't foot the bill? As usual, they lie - of course we will, just wait and see. No money for this and no money for that they got to rebuild the ''B'' instead

Oz Blue (04/02/2009 at 13:29)

Pull the bugger down, it's just a load of old dangerous scrap.

zarquon, bramhall (04/02/2009 at 13:44)

This “work of art” is a demonstration of financial waste over considered design. The health and safety executive should consult certified engineering stress analysts before even considering letting the public anywhere near it. I hope the council have got public liability insurance that still pays out in the event of an injury. A solution might be just a great big letter B, to remind us not only of the Bang, but also of Brown, the nice man that led us all into Bust..from Boom.

I am not a number (04/02/2009 at 14:23)

Unbelievable! This mess has insulted us for years & just when we rejoice in its demise, some bright spark wants to spend a fortune on restoring it. Furthermore, they have recently spent £700,000 'TRYING to implement repairs'??? What's the story there then I wonder? Can some intrepid MEN reporter investigate?

Bury Pensioner., Bury. (04/02/2009 at 14:54)

Trouble is, the price of scrap metal has gone down so they won't get much off the scrapman for it. It should never have been built in the first place.

M16bornRed, Manchester (04/02/2009 at 16:05)

If you take it down why waste the money, scrap the thing....it was an eyesore!!

umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT

According to the locals, they're more than happy with the 'B of the Bang' sculpture! It's the Mustachioed, Kicker Boot, Kangol/Fleece wearing blues who (occasionally) turn up at the council house on a match day that are the eyesore!!

Voice of Sanity (04/02/2009 at 16:55)

Well let's have a public vote shall we !

central, kingsway (04/02/2009 at 17:12)

It should be made secure and kept, it is a unique major sculpture. Manchester needs more major artworks not less. How about asking the City Sheiks to chip in, it is in their front garden.
Central. Kingsway

ebble, manchester (04/02/2009 at 18:04)

More contempt for the taxpayers from the council.

There is never a credit crunch at the council, or job worries. They just send out the council tax bills and get nasty if they don't get their cash.

No wonder they see no need to reduce expenditure, even on dead loss, futile, wasteful projects like this downmarket sculpture.

Guten Tag, Deutschland,, Manchester (04/02/2009 at 20:24)

What are these people on? Illegal drugs?? Two to three million pounds would be better spent, especially in this day and age, on something more worthwhile then a big white elephant that may need even more maintenance once it's fitted with lighter spikes! Come on councillors, are you mad or just being pig ignorant? I know of a few old peoples shelters around Manchester that could do with a lick of paint, new TVs and washing machines. Better spent money don't you think?? Come on! Switch on.

Anthony B, NW (04/02/2009 at 21:24)

Well done MCC. Don't loose your nerve. Save something for our children.....do something NOBLE! Remember only small minded provincials will advocate it'd demise. Let them rant...rise above them!

PW, Manchester (05/02/2009 at 07:26)

The thing has had its chance. Why spend more public money, when there apparently isn't enough to support vital services?

What about a whip-round from the art-lovers, in whose minds such things are uppermost?

Rebuild 'B of the Bang'!, Northern England (05/02/2009 at 15:29)

The design is magnificent and it enriches the city. The sculpture should definitely be reinstated in all its shiny new glory. It's a small price to pay for such a piece of art, which would truly be free for all to see - compare it to the sums paid to keep some paintings in the country.

dave pickup (05/02/2009 at 17:25)

Here's a challenge. Strip all of the spikes off then replace them in the future,one for every time that City win something (Youth Cup and Second Division excluded). This should spread the cost over many years and would act as a sort of progress chart for the club.

Blue Firework, in the Arabian Bank Vault (05/02/2009 at 18:46)

I would like to see it saved, but give it a coat of silver paint.

Blue Firework, in the Arabian Bank Vault (05/02/2009 at 18:53)

Make it out of different materials, Aluminum rods or carbon fibre covered in polystyrene, moulded to shape, then a plastic coating. It would be a lot lighter probably less susceptible to stress and cheaper to make.

andanotherthing, Mcr (05/02/2009 at 19:24)

Surely if it is to be rebuilt it should be rebuilt. As it was, all the spikes added back, in the same materials as was. or not at all.

It is beautiful. even now when I pass on foot, It shakes and growls at me. And more so when ther is no traffic. It moves more when all else is still.

has to be safe though.

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