Big Ben WILL be silenced for four years, despite objections from Theresa May

The world-renowned chimes will silence for four years during restoration work.

Big Ben WILL be silenced for four years, a House of Commons spokesperson has confirmed, after the decision to stop the hourly chimes of the iconic clock was announced.

Next week, Big Ben will stop chiming every hour for four years in order to carry out vital conservation work that will ultimately secure the future of the London landmark.

But the decision to silence it was met with a flurry of criticism, featuring on the front page of the Daily Mail and even attracting backlash from Prime Minister Theresa May.

‘Of course we want to ensure people’s safety at work but it can’t be right for Big Ben to be silent for four years. And I hope the Speaker will look into this urgently, so we can continue to hear Big Ben for those four years’, she said earlier today.

Despite her pleas, a spokesperson for the House of Commons has now confirmed that the clock will go ahead – and said it would not be “practical or a good use of public money” to start and stop Big Ben’s bongs each day.

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Speaking earlier this week, a spokeswoman also confirmed that the silencing of the bells will protect the health and safety of workers implementing the restoration of the tower.

‘Constant proximity to the chimes would pose a serious risk to their hearing, and would prevent efficient working’, she said.

‘People will be working on the scaffolding day-in day-out throughout the works, and, while protective headgear could be provided, it is not desirable for individuals working at height to have their hearing obscured as there is concern the ability to hear each other and any alarms could be affected.’