The famous Manchester sculpture at risk of relocation

The Totem is set to be moved by Manchester City Council

The Totem has been at the epicentre of change in recent years. From being surrounding by once flourishing ‘vibrant’ businesses to standing alone in a derelict square, and now being the last remains of that era with the shops and flats now demolished.

But the sculpture is now at risk of being uprooted and moved at a substantial cost, with some residents of the surrounding area unhappy with the proposal.

The artwork, created by artist William Mitchell who was known for creating concrete sculptures, has sat in Eastford Square in Collyhurst, since the 1960s, but following a vote in 2017, Manchester City Council are in the process of moving the sculpture to the verge of the carpark between Roach and Vauxhall courts.

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However, this is not the first time the Council have attempted the move, with the initial attempt failing due to the sculpture’s precarious position of sitting above the rail lines of Victoria tunnel.

Now the council are aiming to use a crane to excavate and move the sculpture, causing outrage from the local tenant’s association.

Steve Anderson, Secretary of the Hamerton Road tenants’ and residents’ association, said: “The sculpture’s been here 1962, it’s part of the social history of Collyhurst. The general noise around the estate is no, we do not want it moved. The cost of moving it is ridiculous and the money could be better spent restoring the sculpture and repairing damages.”

Residents initially claimed the moving cost was in the region of £120,000 but Manchester City Council have since disputed this claim and said the final cost is to be confirmed after discussing methodology with the contractor but that they ‘don’t expect it to be anywhere near’ that cost.

Alongside the ‘ridiculous’ costs the tenants worry about how the move will affect the railways, with any problems likely to cause delays or problems to the tram and train lines to both Rochdale and Bury.

Steve spoke of the worries caused by the first attempt to pull out the sculpture with a ‘mini digger’.

“They first tried to pull it out with a mini digger, but realised that it was causing stress on the railway lines, he added, “All they managed to do was dig out the earth surrounding the sculpture and now that’s been put back. Trying to move it again may cause the tunnel to collapse.”

But, the council is now planning to use a crane to remove the sculpture despite the worries of the Victoria Tunnel, and tenants want to have another opportunity to have their say regarding the sculpture now having seen Eastford Square demolished and the failed first attempt.

Steve and others of the tenant’s association are now calling for a revote which was held by planning group Northwards Housing, following the initial 4 in favour to 3 opposing vote in 2017, to stop the move of the sculpture and instead put an information board in place, allowing people to know of the works completed by this ‘industrious artist’.

They also want to see some of the money go towards repairing the Totem, which has had no restoration since being put in place, and potentially bettering the area surrounding the sculpture including gardens taken care of by the local community.

However, they also stated they don’t mind where else the money goes, just wanting to see it go to towards something beneficial for the area.

“We have a walking group come through Collyhurst and the meeting point is at the sculpture,” Steve said, “They walk towards and through the gardens and up to The Vine. We’d love for the walkers to see a beautiful sculpture and gardens to walk through and want to keep coming back. The area is under restoration, why not restore the sculpture?”

A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: “”Initial work to relocate the sculpture was undertaken last year with the intention to move it nearby to the grounds of Vauxhall and Roach Courts. However, on excavating the foundations the sculpture was found to be far more substantial than expected – and further complicated by its depth as it sits above an existing Metrolink tunnel.

“The Council has since been working with a contractor and TfGM to agree a suitable and safe option to relocate the sculpture – and we expect this work to recommence in the Autumn.

“The relocation of the sculpture is part of an ambitious investment plan for Collyhurst, which could see more than 4,500 new homes built in the coming years, as well as a proposed new Metrolink stop at this site. The plan for Collyhurst is part of the wider Victoria North regeneration programme that will transform this part of the city along with 155ha of brownfield land between Victoria Station and Queen’s Park in north Manchester over the next decade.”

More of Mitchell’s artwork are dotted around Manchester including The Minute Men sculpture in place outside Salford University.