'Bang' sculpture to be taken down

B of the Bang is currently fenced off

The biggest piece of public art in Manchester is to be taken down - but could be rebuilt in the future.

The B of the Bang, which stands outside the City of Manchester Stadium, has been blighted by safety problems since it was built in 2005.

Nine of its 180 steel spikes had to be removed when one fell off, and the sculpture remains fenced off.

Manchester City Council has now decided to remove the sculpture and store parts of it with a view to rebuilding it.

The council said it could be revived if technical problems could be resolved and the necessary funding could be found.

One of the options being considered is to remove the steel spikes and replace them with similar ones made from a lighter material.

However it stressed no more public money would be spent on the project.

It said if the artwork was rebuilt, it would either stand at its current location or elsewhere on the site as part of the redevelopment.

The only practical alternative is to take the sculpture down Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester would not once again be a world-class city if over the last decade we had not been prepared to be bold and visionary.

"Thomas Heatherwick's B of the Bang is a magnificent artistic statement that was just right for modern Manchester.

"It is regrettable that technical problems have undermined that artistic vision."

He added: "After taking into account expert views, the only practical alternative is to take the sculpture down.

"We have committed ourselves to continue to work with the artist to determine whether there is a robust and affordable strategy for the re-construction of the structure on the site.

"We have, however, made it clear that the will be no city council funding made available to support it's rebuilding even if the further work shows this to be a feasible option."

Angel of the North creator Anthony Gormley has previously written to council bosses urging them not to scrap the artwork, which was commissioned by the council to mark Manchester's Commonwealth Games in 2002.