MPs demand Big Ben carries on chiming as ‘health and safety succeeds where the Luftwaffe failed’

[AGXStarseed]

(Not written by me)

MPs evoked the spirit of the Blitz last night as they demanded a rethink over the four-year silencing of Big Ben.

Labour’s Steve Pound said the chimes, to be stopped over health and safety fears, had been kept going during the nation’s darkest days.


MPs argued that Big Ben is important as the bells kept people’s spirits up during The Blitz


He added: “They kept the bells tolling through the Blitz. The Luftwaffe could not stop it but health and safety has. There has to be a way around. “Ex-minister and Tory MP Shailesh Vara added: “I would have thought some compromise could have been reached to ensure this iconic bell’s presence.”

The Great Bell has sounded on the hour for 157 years except during major refurbishments. It falls silent at noon Monday — except for special occasions — until the latest renovation of the Elizabeth Tower is completed in 2021.

Commons authorities said it had to be silenced to safeguard the hearing of workers.

They insisted ear defenders would not be enough, saying: “Constant proximity to the chimes would pose a serious risk to their hearing and prevent efficient working.”


Source: MPs urge to keep Big Ben ringing out as renovation work silences the tower

 

[Chance]

I dont know much about the story, but Big Ben is an amazing piece of architecture... Its actually a huge work of art in my mind. I admire that within itself. People of today (here where I am in Southern US) just throw up these basic box structures and often bull doze them just to put up something else. There is no pride, just the hunt for the all mighty dollar.

Yes, those bells might have me covering my ears, but I also see the deep pride that built that. I can cover my ears to enjoy that.

I love architecture... I want to go to Greece (and other places) just to see those old structures built with no power tools, no auto CAD programs, just pure human determination. These people left behind something to be remembered by and what have we done with all of it? What will we be remembered for? That question haunts me inside a lot.

 

[Mr Allen]

MPs are morons, London wouldn't be London without Big Ben IMO.

 

[xudo]

MPs are morons, London wouldn't be London without Big Ben IMO.

Yes, it would. It's not like there aren't countless other (far more interesting) things to see in London. If it saves the people working on it from going deaf, then I don't see the issue. The work needs to be carried out, so it won't chime for a while. It's not like they're saying it'll never chime again or that they're tearing it down. It will still be there for people to look at (the tower/clock I mean, not the actual 'Big Ben' which is the bell inside). It's in a ridiculously busy area right by a very busy road, so it's not even like you can really stand around to look at it for long. Buckingham Palace is far nicer to look at, or even better one of the many fabulous museums.

 

[Flinty]

Our city's most famous statue was taken down for repairs and re-gilding from 1999 to 2002. The city still stands today.

Also, if an installation is genuinely dangerous, it is irresponsible not to fix it.

 

[Mr Allen]

Yes, it would. It's not like there aren't countless other (far more interesting) things to see in London. If it saves the people working on it from going deaf, then I don't see the issue. The work needs to be carried out, so it won't chime for a while. It's not like they're saying it'll never chime again or that they're tearing it down. It will still be there for people to look at (the tower/clock I mean, not the actual 'Big Ben' which is the bell inside). It's in a ridiculously busy area right by a very busy road, so it's not even like you can really stand around to look at it for long. Buckingham Palace is far nicer to look at, or even better one of the many fabulous museums.

Well to be fair I've not been in that part of London ever, so I don't know much about it, I have been to Theatre in the West End though, we went to see Lee Mead in Joseph after he won that talent show on BBC 1 a few years back.

 

[Aeolienne]

Here's an official statement from the Houses of Parliament: Why Big Ben's bongs must be paused

TL;DR: The bongs will still sound for special occasions like New Year's Eve. One clock face will remain visible. It takes half a day to disconnect and reconnect the bell mechanism.