A £100,000 Olympic art installation made from pieces of the 'Big Bertha' drill used to dig the rail link route from King's Cross to Stratford, which will also act as anti-terrorist barrier to prevent cars driving into Station Plaza is to be commissioned.

According to planning documents, artists are to be invited to create a sculpture or a seating area from pieces of the tunnelling equipment.


Pieces of the drill have been set aside for the installation, which has been given a budget of £100,000 by Westfield.

The section 106 agreement for Stratford City allows a £2m budget for public art in the area, the document details: "Westfield and Newham Borough Council wish to celebrate the machinery's function and form by inviting artists to either create seating or a sculpture with the pieces. The sculpture will be educational, and plaques describing the form and the function of the machinery will be displayed nearby."

The installation is expected to be completed in 2011, for the opening of the Stratford City rail link.

(GK/JM)