Big Ben, the iconic symbol of London, will be remodeled, leaving the clock silent for up to four months.
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Officials said the cost could rise to around 40 million pounds if another round of repairs are necessary.
The report found The Great Clock’s hand’s mechanism, pendulum and Elizabeth tower are in need of refurbishment and the failure to do so would cause “international reputational damage”.
A leaked Commons report says the clock is so wonky it could grind to a halt – not with the bong, but with a bang – forcing it to be closed for a year and reducing the English to a laughing stock.
The move to fix the clock comes just months after it was announced that taxpayers would have to shell out around £7bn for the restoration of the crumbling Palace of Westminster. MPs have been told Big Ben needs more urgent attention, however.
According to Fox News on October 18, “Big Ben’s bongs fall silent”, which is due to the renovations.
There is also severe metal erosion, cracks in the roof and other structural defects, the reports says.
Our very own 156-year-old Big Ben could see its hands fall off if emergency repairs worth £29m aren’t carried out.
A visitor centre and lift going up inside the tower is also suggested in the report.
The Daily Mail said the record for a Big Ben shutdown is 26 days intermittently over nine months in 1976, during repairs.
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“Committees of both Houses are now considering the study and will provide advice to inform the business case for how best to proceed”, a parliamentary spokesperson said in a statement. “No decisions on works, timescales or costs have been agreed”, said a parliamentary spokesman, according to the BBC.
