Double Pivot hit back after 'pops and bangs' sign removed

Those behind the project, funded by the Arts Council and Bradford 2025 through the South Square Centre, have defended the ‘Pops and Bangs’ sign – but a campaign group said Bradford taxpayers would be furious at having to "pay twice" for a "ridiculous sign".

The signage appeared recently on Oak Lane, in Manningham, and it said "pops and bangs", accompanied with an image that appeared to portray a noisy vehicle.

The sign is the work of Double Pivot, a public art studio formed by Joseph Cole and James Arkwright, who graduated from Glasgow School of Art and now live and work in Bradford.

They explained in an Instagram post last Friday that the sign is "dedicated to the engine remap, POPS AND BANGS is about the sound of the roads."

The post added: "If your car is antisocially loud, this one's for you.

"Live and direct from Oak Lane until it gets taken down."

The sign on Oak Lane in Manningham (Image: Telegraph & Argus) But when the Telegraph & Argus asked Bradford Council if this was official signage related to the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) regarding the anti-social use of vehicles in the city, the local authority said: "the road signs on Oak Lane aren't legal".

It added that it would "be removed ASAP".

Mr Cole said in a statement to the T&A: "Just a point of clarification. This is not a 'road sign' - it’s a street sign.

"It is very obviously not positioned or oriented for it to be used by road users, given its height and position on the right side of the road."

He added: "In terms of our response to the council, we’re not sure there is much responding to do.

"Please see our Instagram post about the work, namely the line 'live and direct from Oak Lane until it gets taken down'.

"We won’t take it down, but the council can do what they want with it.

"The response that we have received and the response to your article would seem to suggest that people want it to stay up.

"In Bradford’s City of Culture year, the best thing we can do for our city is to support the arts.

"BD9 On Top."

The T&A visited the street today and the sign has been removed - we have asked the council if it removed it.

TaxPayers' Alliance has criticised the situation and grassroots development manager, Benjamin Elks, said: "Taxpayers in Bradford will be furious to find themselves paying twice for these ridiculous road signs".

He added: "Arts Council England has a history of funding pointless projects and now seems happy to support initiatives that leave local ratepayers paying for the clean up.

"Bradford council needs to remove these signs swiftly and efficiently."

The sign has been removed in Oak Lane, Manningham (Image: Telegraph & Argus) The sign was described as being part of a "miniseries of bespoke street signs" in a project that Arts Council England and Bradford 2025 have supported through a micro-grant for Our Turn: Bradford Visual Arts Festival.

Arts Council England said it awarded £35,000 from its National Lottery Project Grants fund to South Square for its project "Beyond Square".

South Square then commissioned Double Pivot to produce "Pops and Bangs 2024".

Both Bradford 2025 and South Square made it clear that projects funded and supported through them are "responsible for seeking permissions for their work" and abiding by the law.

The sign has since been removed in Oak Lane, Manningham (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

A spokesperson for Bradford 2025 said: "In the run up to next year, Bradford 2025 has provided financial awards to support a wide variety of local artists.

"In this instance we funded South Square to support the visual arts ecology of the district.

"Double Pivot have received an artist award for a project to be delivered in 2025.

"Projects supported through our awards programmes are expected to comply within the law.”

Alice Withers, director at the South Square Centre, said: "South Square is committed to supporting emerging artistic practices within the Bradford district.

"In this instance, we were commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Arts Council England, to award micro commissions that would help shape ‘Our Turn’ a visual arts festival.

"The recipients of the grant were shortlisted by Bradford-based artists, overseen by South Square Centre.

"Double Pivot, based in Manningham, were awarded the grant.

"Every organisation who is awarded funding through South Square Centre is responsible for seeking permissions for their work and acting in accordance with the law."