By: Ashley Barrow
This is the news article that another student and I worked on during the live news day.
The Houses of Parliament is an attraction most tourists will have on their bucket lists when visiting London.
So it’s disappointing to find scaffolding and construction on the inside and outside of the building. Our tour guide, Jakob, says “the restoration and renewal process is going to take a minimum of three years to complete along with around £3.5 – £5.7bn of tax payer money to aid the process.”
Jakob also mentioned that the main part of the renewal process is to fix the plumbing and the infrastructure due to the old age of the building of more than 200 years old.
Statues of war heroes like Winston Churchill and paintings of figureheads including Queen Elizabeth or King George II are still on display serving as a memory of the great impact they had during their time in power.
The history behind the statues, paintings, and extravagant decor is worthwhile to see and if you are visiting London, buy a ticket to tour Parliament. Don’t let the construction scare you away.
According to parliament.uk, a major refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster is needed to protect and preserve its heritage and ensure it can continue to serve as home to the UK Parliament in the 21st century and beyond.
As stated in the morning edition of The Heard , the construction could cost years to achieve. The reconstruction process that the Palace is going through has an impact on tourists wanting to view other parts of Parliament including Elizabeth’s Tower. People may be unhappy with the construction, but renovations are necessary to keep buildings up-to-date and safe.
Culture on Every Corner 