krugerandsmith Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Big Ben to be shut down for four years in order to carry out repairs. To bring it into modern times lets also get rid of its Homophobic name and rename it Big Boy Bennie and on the hour strike .... boinngy Boing ... Boing ... Boing .... Boingy ... Boing ... Boing ... Boing.. You know its the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 And £29 000 000 to carry it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 And £29 000 000 to carry it out! That is almost all work to the tower; redo the roof (made of cast iron), repair stonework, new lift installed in old ventilation shaft. The work to the clock itself is a 'clean and inspect' and I don't believe the bells have any work except possible repairs to any rusted parts of the frame. The clock faces/hands are having some repair/replace work. I bet a fair chunk of the cost will be the scaffolding - as I understand they are scaffolding the whole tower for 4 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 To fall silent? Why has nobody thought of a digital recording of the chimes, relayed through a PA system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Id convert it into flats for the MP'S (dorms) for when they are in London instead of their dodgy expense claims for second homes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 It's being done on H&S grounds to protect the hearing of the work force during the refurb and repair works. To fall silent? Why has nobody thought of a digital recording of the chimes, relayed through a PA system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Damned if they do Damned if they don't. The volume of sound from the bells is too high even with the best ear protection. If they don't stop them they will be accuse of bending the health and safety rules when it suits the mp's However as to the time span and therefore cost that is another matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 £29,000,000 on a clock and an old tower, they need to get their priorities right ! NHS,POLICE, BORDER CONTROL THE LIST IS ENDLESS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Knock it down and as davyo said, spend the money services for the people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 £29,000,000 on a clock and an old tower, they need to get their priorities right ! NHS,POLICE, BORDER CONTROL THE LIST IS ENDLESS. It is the home of our elected (well mostly elected) members; nothing but the finest for them, no expenses (account) to be skimped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 And £29 000 000 to carry it out! Funny how they can always find the money to do stuff like this but when loads of people need a place to live they cannot find money to build council houses lots of us can never urn enough to buy a house of our own or even rent one from privet owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 £29,000,000 on a clock and an old tower. That brings in tourism that will pay for this work... With out these landmarks our capital would not be the destination it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 That brings in tourism that will pay for this work... With out these landmarks our capital would not be the destination it is.I'm sure that is actually correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 That brings in tourism that will pay for this work... With out these landmarks our capital would not be the destination it is. Ok,turn it into a Travelodge or if you don't want soley to rely on tourists then turn it I to a Weatherspoons.Thst way we will get the benefits we pay out back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Yes, let's not repair any public buildings and national monuments..............our country can then look like Beirut in a few years time and the slovenly immigrants we attract will feel even more at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 If it needs repairing, then it should be repaired. It is an iconic building, after all. The price does seem a little high, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 It's amazing that (apparently) the clockwork has not previously been stripped down despite being in constant use for over 150 years - good bit of Victorian engineering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 (edited) Knock it down and as davyo said, spend the money services for the people! Knock it down!! What next, melt down the last flying Lancaster bomber to make railway tracks in the aim of lowing public rail fares? Its probably the most iconic building in the UK, a symbol that represents who we are as a nation. Not to mention I cant imagine the cost of the demolition would be particularly cheap either. Edited August 15, 2017 by zipdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Hold on, i did'nt say knock it down, i ment there are other pressing issues to deal with 1st. I'm sure there is many hospitals or schools that need repairing.Maybe just patch it up a bit and sort out priorities 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Hold on, i did'nt say knock it down, i ment there are other pressing issues to deal with 1st. I'm sure there is many hospitals or schools that need repairing.Maybe just patch it up a bit and sort out priorities 1st. I get the impression that that is what has been happening for decades and the whole building is now way beyond further similar repairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 They could replace it with a digital clock, and an ipod with the time shouted out by Ryland what's his name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Yes, let's not repair any public buildings and national monuments..............our country can then look like Beirut in a few years time and the slovenly immigrants we attract will feel even more at home. 😊 I know; exasperating isn't it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 I know; exasperating isn't it! One of the 'gripes' I have is that we have many many fine buildings in the country - the vast majority looked after by the (private individual) owners. Since these are listed, we (yes, I am an owner of a listed building) are very restricted in what we can do - and wheat materials we can use and what practical changes we can make. We get no help at all with the extra cost of this. For example - recent work I have had done was the rebuilding of some badly rotten sash windows. For reasons I won't detail in full, the 'premium' for having the work done to fully meet the listed buildings requirements about double the cost. Now it would be very nice if the private individual could get a little help with this - such as a VAT waiver. Government can find £29M easily enough for their listed building - I'm not asking for any subsidy ........ just not to have to pay the VAT on top of the materials and labour costs - since government rules have doubled the cost of the work needed. Note that my house was not listed when acquired - that was just dropped on it later - by means of registered letter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 It's amazing that (apparently) the clockwork has not previously been stripped down despite being in constant use for over 150 years - good bit of Victorian engineering It did actually have a fairly big overhaul during the eighties , I remember well the climb to the clock room several times a day carting building materials up to repair the damage to the walls after the cast iron frame broke fairly spectatually embedding bits of frame into the walls . Had anyone been in the room at the time I can't think they would have faired well ..but after 100 + years I suppose the odd hick up should be forgiven ..we also replaced some war damaged cast iron roof tiles , each one could barely be moved by two people ..iconic building that belongs to the nation and should be repaired and restored .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 and I don't believe the bells have any work except possible repairs to any rusted parts of the frame. One of them has a crack in it, whether they repair/replace it I don't know, but if they do it will change the tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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