• Artwork was named after a quote from Linford Christie and was described as a 'magnificent artistic statement'
  • However, it was taken down in 2009 after some of its 180 spikes came loose
  • The sculpture's core has been melted down for scrap metal which has raised 17,000 for taxpayers in Manchester

By Kerry Mcqueeney

PUBLISHED: 06:52 EST, 4 July 2012 | UPDATED: 09:20 EST, 4 July 2012


It was one of the tallest and one of the most dramatic public sculptures ever erected in Britain when it was unveiled to fanfare in 2005.

The 2million B Of The Bang sculpture, an ambitious commemoration to mark the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, was described as a 'magnificent artistic statement' which was meant to symbolise a bold new beginning for the city.

However, in spite of its grand launch, there was nothing magnificent about the iconic sculpture's end.

Fanfare: Linford Christie - the athlete whose quote inspired the sculpture - attended the glitzy launch

Fanfare: Linford Christie - the athlete whose quote inspired the sculpture - attended the glitzy launch

Structurally unsound: The council reached an out-of-court settlement for 1.7m as a result of the sculpture's technical issues

Structurally unsound: The council reached an out-of-court settlement for 1.7m as a result of the sculpture's technical issues

The core of the controversial B Of The Bang sculpture has been melted down for scrap metal - raising 17,000 for the city’s taxpayers.

B Of The Bang was unveiled in 2005 - two years later than its schedule launch - in the shadow of what is now Manchester City’s stadium.

It was named after a quote from former Olympic sprint champion Linford Christie and meant to symbolise the burst of energy as an athlete shoots out of the blocks.

However, the 184ft structure was eventually taken down in 2009 after a series of spikes fell off.

Furious council bosses - who had paid for the sculpture from the public purse - eventually reached an out-of-court settlement with designers Thomas Heatherwick Studio Limited and subcontractors who worked on the sculpture. The deal saw 1.7m refunded.

Since then the core has been recycled, with the town hall receiving 17,000 for the metal.

Meanwhile the artwork’s 180 spikes have been kept in storage at a secret location for almost three years. It is understood they are being kept in the hope a donor will come forward to pay for the sculpture’s resurrection.

However, the possibility of this happening is thought to be unlikely.

Controversial: Artist Thomas Heatherwick with his creation B of the Bang. The core of the sculpture has been melted down for scrap

Controversial: Artist Thomas Heatherwick with his creation B Of The Bang. The core of the sculpture has been melted down for scrap

Risk: The 184ft structure was eventually taken down in 2009 after a series of spikes fell off

Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese has vowed that no more money from the public purse will be spent on the sculpture.

A spokesman for Manchester council added: 'Thomas Heatherwick’s B Of The Bang was a magnificent artistic statement and it was regrettable that technical problems undermined that vision.

'As was widely reported in 2008, the council reached an out-of-court settlement for 1.7m with Thomas Heatherwick Studio and three sub-contractors employed by them in respect of these technical issues.

'The sculpture was dismantled in 2009 and the core was recycled, with the council receiving almost 17,000 for the metal.

'The spikes remain in storage at no cost to the council.'

Mr Heatherwick said: 'I am proud of B of the Bang.  Although there were structural issues with the project, these could have been resolved.

'At the recent opening of an exhibition of my studio's work at London's Victoria and Albert Museum that has a particular highlight on the project, the Academy Award winning Manchester born film director Danny Boyle gave the opening speech and made an impassioned plea for it to be rebuilt.

'I'm still hopeful that one day we can work with the people of the city and Manchester City Council to bring the structure back.'

TO THE POINT: THE SPIKY HISTORY OF B OF THE BANG

The sculpture was designed by former Manchester Polytechnic student Tom Heatherwick and it was hoped it would become an iconic landmark and provide a lasting reminder of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Planning permission was granted in January 2003 with a scheduled unveiling date of July that same year.

However, later in 2003 it was revealed the cost of the project had spiralled from 750,000 to 1.4million.

In August 2004, thieves stole a 30-foot section of the sculpture and in January 2005 a spike fell off days before it was due to be unveiled.

Later that month, Linford Christie attended the glitzy launch event. But by March the sculpture was closed for 10 weeks in a bid to stop its spikes moving and in May firefighters had to cut one free over fears it could fall.

A slip road next to the sculpture on Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way was closed for a year amid safety concerns.

In May 2006, engineers began removing nine spikes to test them for signs of stress damage. In October 2007, revealed council chiefs were to sue the makers for 2m.

In November 2008, an out-of-court settlement was reached which saw 1.7m handed over to the council by the architects.

Eventually, in February 2009, work began to take B of the Bang down and in August of that year the final spike was removed.


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Proof we don`t live in a proper democracy when taxpayers money can be wasted on vanities like this?

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........ and made an impassioned plea for it to be rebuilt. +++++++++++ The nerve of these people. The tax payer is supposed to just reach in their pockets and pull out another few £Million to put another piece of scrap on the sidewalk. What you have to realize is that while self indulgent councillors were splashing obscene amounts of tax funds on this sort of garbage bailiffs were knocking on the doors of poor local people who couldn't pay their local taxes.

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Good job the thing was not erected in London as the roaming hoards would have had it over night for scrap

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Couldnt they have chopped off the plane/pavement killing spear ends, had the sculpture using short poles, and said it was about discovering the universe in an atom with the hadron collider etc ?

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A spokesman for Manchester council added: 'Thomas Heatherwicks B Of The Bang was a magnificent artistic statement and it was regrettable that technical problems undermined that vision. ========Thomas heatherwick should have consulted an engineer who could have told him that it would fall apart. This is why civil engineers double check what architects dream up. Most artist are so full of their own 'artistic talent' that they could not accept these simple facts. Most councillors are too stupid to not waste our money. SPEND OUR MONEY AS IF IT WERE YOUR OWN.

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It was commissioned from a man who had done 3D design at a polytechnique and had a masters in furniture design, -yet the structure was made from metal. No doubt he had the correct political credentials for Manchester to use him and their commissioning team should be sacked for giving the commission to someone who had no background in designing metal structures. Any local blacksmiths in Cheshire would have said that this design was dangerous.

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It looked hideous and dangerous

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Pretentious, money wasting, crap, same goes for the council.

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This story far exceeds what bankers have done in my view.

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Well, there is scrap and there is scrap. Ilfracombe is about to have another load of scrap delivered in the form of a Hirst sculpture but at least its being given free of charge by Hirst himself. Just as well because if as a taxpayer was being asked to pay for it, there would be hell to pay!

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