Published: Wednesday, 13th August, 2008 09:00
Locals fight against bell decision
By Ally McGilvray
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CONTROVERSIAL plans to silence the clock on one of the best-kept war memorials in Scotland have been put on hold amid overwhelming opposition.
Under-pressure officials at Scottish Borders Council this week confirmed the bells at the peel tower adjoining the Burgh Chambers in Galashiels will continue to sound throughout the night – at least for the foreseeable future.
As previously reported, it was preparing to slap a curfew on the chimes, between 1 a.m. and 7.15 a.m., following a complaint from a nearby bed and breakfast owner about the noise.
But now the local authority has employed a sound technician to investigate whether the decibel level produced by the bells could be reduced, by insulating the tower, before any action is taken.
Speaking to the Border Telegraph this week, Galashiels and Langlee Community Council secretary Pauline Ward said: “This is a victory for common sense.”
The council, which insisted it would be committing a criminal offence under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if it failed to act on the complaint which was first raised in May last year, has also written to the Scottish Government to ask for public buildings and war memorials to be made exempt from the law governing noise nuisance.
However, despite saying it would consider the letter, a spokesman revealed there were no plans to change the law.
The Border Telegraph has launched a campaign to show the world weare Loud and Proud of our bells, and we are asking readers to sign our online petition to force the powers that be into a rethink.
Our online petition can be found below:
http://www.bordertelegraph.com/petition.php?pid=7
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