Big Ben - Good Grief

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It's a clock...it needs fixing. The bell experts tell us that you cannot simply switch a clock mechanism like Big Ben's on and off. And you cannot leave it on whilst fixing it - apart from anything else it is not the impact on your ear drums that is the real issue - it's the fact that the chimes make your innards reverberate.

Yes I suppose it is a pity - for Londoners - that it won't be heard for 4 years. But if needs must.

And we have MPs and ministers sounding off about it - have they got nothing more important to fill their thoughts and concerns. We have the unedifying sound of Theresa May saying in her best, most concerned and sympathetic voice that it can't be right for BB to be silent for four years. Get real. This doesn't make you sound as if you care - it makes you sound that you are seeking anything to hang a populist hat off.

 

[User62651]

Timescale does seem overly long. Cant help thinking if this was Japan they've have her sorted out in 6 months or less. Has the repair job been tendered out and won fairly?

 

[Old Skier]

With today's gadgets and gizmos you'd have thought someone would have recorded a few bongs.

 

[Old Skier]

Has the repair job been tendered out and won fairly?

Doubtfull, one of the areas the public sector is very poor at.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

With today's gadgets and gizmos you'd have thought someone would have recorded a few bongs.

They will have plenty of bongs recorded for radio and news purposes. The only people who will notice anything will be the tourists and those who live and work within hearing distance. A silent BB won't make one iota of difference to the vast majority of the UK population.

 

[MegaSteve]

Big Ben [or what they think is] is a huge draw for visitors... With tourism becoming ever more important, to London's economy, I am sure a better solution beyond merely switching off the bells could've been found...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Timescale does seem overly long. Cant help thinking if this was Japan they've have her sorted out in 6 months or less. Has the repair job been tendered out and won fairly?

It does seem a long time - but who among us has any idea whatsoever what is required, planned and involved in carrying out the work.

 

[Old Skier]

but who among us has any idea whatsoever what is required, planned and involved in carrying out the work.

Seems like the people who decided on the work didn't know either.

 

[richart]

Del Boy could do it in three years and for a few million less.:thup:

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The main repairs are to the tower, not the clock, although that is being serviced at the same time. The bongs are being silenced so that workers are not deafened or 100m up and shocked into falling off scaffolding when a bong occurs. 4yrs does seem a remarkably long time to do what is required though.

 

[ger147]

The main repairs are to the tower, not the clock, although that is being serviced at the same time. The bongs are being silenced so that workers are not deafened or 100m up and shocked into falling off scaffolding when a bong occurs. 4yrs does seem a remarkably long time to do what is required though.

They should have given the job to DIY SOS, they finish everything inside a week...

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Seems to be lots of tears and hand wringing going on [instead of bell ringing].

IT'S A BLOOMIN CLOCK.
Calm down.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The main repairs are to the tower, not the clock, although that is being serviced at the same time. The bongs are being silenced so that workers are not deafened or 100m up and shocked into falling off scaffolding when a bong occurs. 4yrs does seem a remarkably long time to do what is required though.

Do we know what work is actually being done on the tower. As a very significant and iconic listed building I would imagine that replacement stonework and/or replacement of rotted iron bandings holding the tower together would be a major piece of work. Further if the plan is to build a lift inside the tower (it doesn't have one) then that isn't going to be a quick job.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

They should have given the job to DIY SOS, they finish everything inside a week...

Quite right, these people are stuck in the past, ha ha.

Swingit - I don't know what is being done but no doubt it has to be done with old methods, tools etc hence the slow pace of work. Hopefully they will give it a good clean whilst the scaffolding is up as well. Our moans are overly simplistic, I accept, but 4 yrs does seem excessive when you consider it is not a series of buildings but just one. If it is 4yrs for the tower then the whole refurb of the Palace of Westminster could end up being like the Sagrada Familia and take a life time.

 

[Hacker Khan]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/...ng-quasimodo-like-from-big-ben-20170817134174

 

[Hacker Khan]

caution, some rude words in this one

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/...over-maintenance-of-large-bell-20170815134060

 

[FairwayDodger]

I've been watching this (non-)story with disbelief would think our MPs have bigger things to worry about.... driving off cliffs, flushing the economy down the toilet etc etc.....

 

[bigslice]

Timescale does seem overly long. Cant help thinking if this was Japan they've have her sorted out in 6 months or less. Has the repair job been tendered out and won fairly?

Lol im trying to find a joke ,
If only big ben was a seiko kenetic he would run fir ever

 

[Tashyboy]

Not heard it for the last four years and wouldn't of heard it for the next four years so not bothered.
Mark my words, when it cracks up in four years someone is gonna moan they like the peace and quiet.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I've been watching this (non-)story with disbelief would think our MPs have bigger things to worry about.... driving off cliffs, flushing the economy down the toilet etc etc.....

you have ticked all the boxes with that post @FD - ludicrous.