Its Going To Take Billions To Renovate The Houses Of Parliament

[emmie]

could the money be better spent?

[emmie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33184160

[Mamyalynne]

//Could the money be better spent?//


There are many things that require funding of course but I don't think letting this building fall into total ruin is a good idea.

Demolishing would be hugely costly too and a new home for Parliament would still need to be funded.

[ToraToraTora]

Yes it could but I assume that they'll have to go somewhere. Should be just let the POW rot?

[Mothman]

Depends, the HOP are the centerpiece of UK politics and we should invest in the place and have some sense of pride in the building. However, if more than £3.50 is being spent on renovating the MP's restaurant and bar then this portion should be diverted elsewhere, look after the structure, public and working rooms - the entertainment section can fund it's own refurbishment.

[douglas9401]

I'd say so. But there's no telling some folk.
These are the walls that enclose the most important people with the biggest brains in the world.
Or so they'd have us believe.
There's surely an empty B&Q or similar that could house 600 odd time wasters for a couple of hours a week.

[emmie]

i know it's an iconic building and one that can't be left to rot, but the taxpayer will be footing the bill presumably.
It must mean the MP's being moved out and housed elsewhere for the duration of the works, that is going to cost a lot as well.
Personally i love the building and hope it gets it's makeover, but its still a lot of money for one building.

[ToraToraTora]

fix it, no choice

[Mamyalynne]

It may be one building, but there is an awful lot of it.

http://www.restorationandrenewal.parliament.uk/

[emmie]

mamy, true, i have often wondered what its like inside.

[Mamyalynne]

You can look at a few interiors here....


http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/

[Mamyalynne]

and.....

http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/

[bhg481]

You can get tours inside emmie. Your local MP may do it or there are organised ones (we had a coach-trip there about 5 years ago). We were told by the HP guide that we were not allowed to die inside the building, as it is a royal palace. Anyone who dares to die inside is brought outside to be declared dead. None of our party took the chance.

[ToraToraTora]

emmie, it's a public building, you can walk around most of it every day.

[Gladeian]

The Palace of Westminster is an iconic building and the image of the Elizabeth Tower is known the world over. Admittedly the prospect of spending a few billions to renovate the building is a bit daunting seen narrowly but compared to the billions thrown down the lavatory that is foreign aid it is a really reasonable investment in our national heritage.

[emmie]

its certainly a beautiful building. i would miss it if it were demolished.

[ToraToraTora]

Good point Gladian, lets stop foreign aid and spend it on the the Palace, simples!

[dance2trance]

well yes of course we could invade a country somewhere I guess and liberate the poor people, then deny the refugees entry here, or build more prisons, or homes for the old folk, or hospitals with cancer wards where all the sick people could be cured, and develop organic farming, or pay a living wage to zero hours contract staff, or launch a search for all the poor missing people, or provide free nursery care for poor working mums, and feed the homeless and give them shelter and dignity so much could be done so very very much.

[ToraToraTora]

Anyway we spend gazillions on our WSS so use some of that, the palace should be fixed up.

[Hopkirk]

I suppose we could sell it off for housing, and build a cheap alternative in Milton Keynes.

[atalanta]

If I had my way, I'd knock it down and start again. Not nesser-celery in the same place. Think what vast numbers of zillions of shekels that site would fetch ! Starting afresh - anywhere - would allow top-level security and communications to be built in from the start.