Big Ben

[Deleted member 16999]

I'm all for history and tradition, but surely with all the issues in this country at the moment 40 Million on a clock is a disgrace,
I think the Clock inards should be replaced by something modern so from the outside it looks exactly the same to tourists and the original parts brought down and put in a museum.
Breakdown of costs are:
Officials said it would cost £4.9m "to prevent the clock from failing", but the report states the "full refurbishment" would cost £29m.
The addition of a visitor centre at the bottom of the tower, and installing a lift to the top could see the cost rise to £40m.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm all for history and tradition, but surely with all the issues in this country at the moment 40 Million on a clock is a disgrace,
I think the Clock inards should be replaced by something modern so from the outside it looks exactly the same to tourists and the original parts brought down and put in a museum.
Breakdown of costs are:
Officials said it would cost £4.9m "to prevent the clock from failing", but the report states the "full refurbishment" would cost £29m.
The addition of a visitor centre at the bottom of the tower, and installing a lift to the top could see the cost rise to £40m.

I agree. Iconic or not how can you justify such outlay given the state of so much in the country

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It's an iconic landmark in the country that have tourists flood to visit which is a price that can't be attached

Yes it should be refurbished and enhanced for that cost

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It's an iconic landmark in the country that have tourists flood to visit which is a price that can't be attached

Yes it should be refurbished and enhanced for that cost

Find that a very narrow view. Plenty of other history on the same doorstep (Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament) and to be honest they will still come to see Big Ben whether that's in a format that allows it to still work or some enhanced attraction.

 

[Duckster]

£29 mill for one of the worlds most iconic buildings seems like a bargain to me.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

£29 mill for one of the worlds most iconic buildings seems like a bargain to me.

They spent 36mil Euro's refurbishing a lift on the Effiel Tower

 

[MegaSteve]

I don't mind tourists, in town, as long as they leave their selfie sticks at home...

Never worked out how the benefit to the economy tourism is calculated but I am sure it brings in a fair few pences...

 

[Old Skier]

£29 mill for one of the worlds most iconic buildings seems like a bargain to me.

Cheap compared to the Red Arrows and the circus

 

[Duckster]

They spent 36mil Euro's refurbishing a lift on the Effiel Tower

Fair play to them. Must admit, not too sure about the visitor centre or lift (would that be for engineers to get up there or for visitors to look round?).

If it does help bring in extra cash and it's done so it fits in with the existing building then go for it.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

It's an iconic landmark in the country that have tourists flood to visit which is a price that can't be attached

Yes it should be refurbished and enhanced for that cost

Agreed, but stood on the ground outside all you see is the clock face, refurb that, the inside is immaterial.
Do you honestly think someone coming to London on holiday would change their mind if the workings of the clock were changed?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

£29 mill for one of the worlds most iconic buildings seems like a bargain to me.

No problem with the building, they reckon 7 Billion for the Palace of Westminister, I'm sure when it was made it wasn't meant to last hundreds of years, technology has moved in, use it while keeping the fabric of the building in tact.

 

[pbrown7582]

No one would not come to see it but given the cost of London attractions @ £30 a pop surely the visitors centre will pay for itself in the long run?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Agreed, but stood on the ground outside all you see is the clock face, refurb that, the inside is immaterial.
Do you honestly think someone coming to London on holiday would change their mind if the workings of the clock were changed?

Then it's not Big Ben is it ?

 

[Liverbirdie]

Put the "bong" on a tape and play it through loudspeakers. Job's a good 'un.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Put the "bong" on a tape and play it through loudspeakers. Job's a good 'un.

Great idea. Save loads of the money it'll cost, still get the tourists, and the jobs a good 'un

 

[srixon 1]

I thought Big Ben was the bell.

I bet 40 million wouldn't be spent if it was outside of London.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Then it's not Big Ben is it ?

The bell stays, we don't need old technology to make it work, put the old mechanism in a museum and let the anoraks visit it there, nothing changes externally.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Put the "bong" on a tape and play it through loudspeakers. Job's a good 'un.

And make the clock digital,😃

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The bell stays, we don't need old technology to make it work, put the old mechanism in a museum and let the anoraks visit it there, nothing changes externally.

How much does it cost to put in that "new technology" ?

Change the inner workings and you change how iconic it is

 

[MegaSteve]

I thought Big Ben was the bell.

I bet 40 million wouldn't be spent if it was outside of London.

It is... But most now refer to the whole shebang as 'Big Ben'...

In comparison to what it has cost Londoners for the met to keep an eye on Assange...
Cost of repair to 'Big Ben' is as cheap as chips and comes with a chance of some return...