A contractor is being sought to preserve Hull’s Banksy artwork and dismantle Scott Street Bridge.
As part of this work, the Banksy will be placed into storage until a suitable location is determined.
Planning permission for the work was approved in March this year and will be carried out in two phases.
During phase one, a decision will be made on where the Banksy should be located. Options include displaying it on a steel structure on Scott Street fronting the existing location or relocation to a position on the river bank close to Scott Street, so the concept of the artwork is maintained.
Councillor Daren Hale, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for economic investment and regeneration, said: “The council has kept the bridge in place for as long as practically possible, but we have been advised that this is the only way to keep river traffic safe.
“It will be a complex operation and we will have to engage with specialist companies to ensure this work is handled as sensitively as possible. We want to ensure that the context of the artwork and the history of the bridge are fully respected and acknowledged in the final scheme.
“This means that the Banksy must be removed and relocated, before being returned to a site in keeping with its original location.”
As Hull’s navigation authority, the council has a responsibility to keep the River Hull operational at all times. There are about 40 vessel movements a month and, within the Hull boundary, there are 10 operational bridges, most of which are movable to allow shipping to pass.
Scott Street Bridge was closed to vehicles in 1995 and ceased to be a public highway in 2007. It has been raised permanently since then. As a Grade II-listed structure, the works will be carried out in consultation with Historic England.
The report will be discussed at Economy and Investment Overview and Scrutiny Commission on Thursday 17 October.
