‘The B Of The Bang’

Work is continuing to de-commission Thomas Hetherwick’s sculpture ‘The B Of The Bang’ in Manchester, after safety concerns over the work’s structure could not not be resolved.

The B of the Bang was commissioned in 2003 and completed in 2005 for a site adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium, to mark the city’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games. Its title refers to a comment by sprinter Linford Christie, who said that he began races at the very ‘b’ of the ‘bang’ from the starting pistol.

Problems were identified with the work when a section of one of the sculpture’s spikes became detatched from its support in 2005, and a whole spike fell from the sculpture in 2006 leading to serious concerns about the work’s safety. An out of court settlement was reached where the artists studio and the subcontractors with whom he worked agreed to pay Manchester Council £1.7m damages for breach of contract and negligence. The decision was taken earlier this month the remove the work from its permanent location and place it in storage until a suitable solution for its re-installation can be found.

The repairs and redesign neccessary to render the B of the Bang safe are believed to be in excess of £3m, comprising as they will a substantial re-construction in an alternative material. Manchester City Council is unwilling to fund the shortfall of £1.3m left after the damages settlement, although the £1.7 from the damages claim has been ring-fenced by the council to part-fund the sculpture’s rehabilitation. Manchester City Council have stated that they are still committed to the sculpture, and are unwilling to compromise it aesthetically. They will work with the artist to develop a solution acceptable to both parties – which at the moment may include remodelling the trademark spikes in an alternative lightweight material. To achieve this however, a substantial fundraising effort will need to be put in place.