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PTSG And Blackpool Council

PTSG removing The Frankenstein Project by crane

Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG) has completed a project to decommission the Frankenstein Project on Blackpool’s Promenade.

The Frankenstein Project was executed as part of a four-part art scheme commissioned by Blackpool Council and a number of other art companies at a cost of £500,000, under the name of the Great Promenade Show.

Created by Tony Stallard in 2001 and inspired by Blackpool’s Victorian freak shows, Stallard decided to create a giant sea creature in the Frankenstein Project. The piece warns of the bad things that can happen when interfering with nature. It is a diver’s decompression chamber inside of which is a blue neon light that illuminates the skeleton and skull of a killer whale.

Implementation of the piece took six years in total and was Stallard’s biggest project to date. Weighing seven tonnes, the piece consists of twenty-four foot long gas tank, donated by British Gas, with a replica killer whale inside. Portholes on the side of the tank allow visitors to peer inside the illuminated tank.

Sadly, the sculpture was the victim of persistent vandal attacks which required significant repairs and eventually caused the site of the artwork to be redeveloped and moved back to its location.

The structure had been on display for the public to enjoy for over 15 years and was deemed unsightly due to corrosion, which is why the decision was taken to remove it. PTSG Building Access Specialists Ltd planned the decommissioning and contract crane lift from start to completion.

A Successful Working Relationship

PTSG operatives working on Blackpool Tower

PTSG Building Access Specialists Ltd has delivered two other high-profile projects for Blackpool Council in recent times. In 2019, its engineers were contracted to carry out a series of urgent repairs to Blackpool Tower, replacing structural steel with like-for-like components. All work had to be approved by the heritage committee as it is a Grade I listed building. PTSG’s team continues to provide ongoing maintenance.

At the start of 2022, PTSG Building Access Specialists Ltd completed a project to remove the famous Blackpool High Tide Organ, which had fallen into disrepair since it was created in 2002.

The tidal organ, which measured 15 metres in height, was constructed as part of the Great Promenade Show series of sculptures – like the Frankenstein Project. The harnessing of wave energy, and the sculpting of the concrete and metals, produced a unique interpretation of Blackpool’s natural and man-made environments.

PTSG’s engineers managed the decommissioning from start to finish. This involved the use of a crane and a mobile elevating work platform to disassemble the sculpture, lowering each piece carefully to the ground. The organ pipes were saved and it will be possible to use them again if the opportunity arises.

Contact PTSG to find out more about the company’s specialist services, or for a free, no-obligations quote: