Taking down 'Banksy bridge' to cost taxpayer more than £1 million

THE cost to the local authority of dismantling a bridge in Hull, which had graffiti by the artist Banksy painted on it, has been estimated at £1.1m.
The banksy artwork before it was taken down from Scott Street Bridge Picture; Jonathan GawthorpeThe banksy artwork before it was taken down from Scott Street Bridge Picture; Jonathan Gawthorpe
The banksy artwork before it was taken down from Scott Street Bridge Picture; Jonathan Gawthorpe

Banksy’s Draw The Raised Bridge artwork, which appeared in 2017, was cut off one of the decks of the bridge last month and put into secure storage.

A decision record now published on Hull Council’s website says dismantling the Scott Street Bridge was the “only viable and safest option”.

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Tenders are going out to contractors in the coming weeks to carry out the job, which is estimated to cost some £1.1 million.

The artwork drew crowds to Scott Street Bridge last year Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeThe artwork drew crowds to Scott Street Bridge last year Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
The artwork drew crowds to Scott Street Bridge last year Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

A structural survey concluded the Grade II listed bridge was a hazard to navigation.

Engineers found the transverse girders to be “on the point of failure” and warned that even a bridge strike of "minor proportions" could lead to “complete failure” of the bridge leaf.

Meanwhile, the value of the elusive artist’s pieces continues to soar.

A Banksy artwork, called Devolved Parliament, depicting chimpanzees sat in Parliament, made a hammer price of £8.5m at Sotheby’s in London last month – nearly five times its estimate.