Manchester Lib Dems Opposed to B of the Bang Rebuild

11.10.00am GMT Wed 4th Feb 2009

B of the Bang: "An expensive and embarrassing flop from day one, say Manchester Liberal Democrats."

Manchester Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Simon Ashley has welcomed plans to pull down the notorious failed "B of the Bang" monument in East Manchester. Council Officers are recommending the sculpture be pulled down in an Executive Committee report.

However, Councillor Ashley does not want the Council to spend a penny extra to either maintain or subsidise the sculpture so it can be rebuilt elsewhere on the site.

Cllr Ashley commented:

"Frankly, this sculpture has been an expensive and embarrassing flop from day one. Council officials are right to recommend pulling it down. However, I cannot understand why they are recommending spending another two to three million pounds rebuilding it elsewhere on the site. Labour's Town Hall bosses should reject that idea."

Cllr Ashley added:

"Council officers have confirmed that the other funding partners would allow the money left over after dismantling the sculpture to be put towards public art on this site. I think we need to draw a line under this debacle. A new scheme would be better than throwing good money after bad trying to make "B of the Bang" safe."

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