Border Telegraph | News | Government breaks silence on bells

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 9th September, 2008 11:30

Government breaks silence on bells

By Ally McGilvray

Comments (0)

Print Article

Image related to story, see caption or article text

RING out the bells!

The Scottish Government has broken its silence on controversial plans to slap a curfew on the chimes at the war memorial in Galashiels.

And, following overwhelming opposition, it appears commonsense has prevailed.

As previously reported, Scottish Borders Council was considering silencing the bells at the peel tower adjoining the Burgh Chambers, between 1 a.m. and 7.15 a.m., after a nearby bed-and-breakfast owner complained they were keeping her guests awake at night.

It claimed it had a duty to get rid of the so-called nuisance by law after an investigation concluded they were too loud and insisted it would be committing a criminal offence under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if it didn’t.

But, in a statement released to the Border Telegraph this week, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The legislation is flexible and we recommend local authorities take a sensible and proportionate approach based on the majority view.”

She added: “The legislation is designed to reduce the stress and misery noise nuisance can cause. We do not advocate blanket exemptions but recommend each case is dealt with according to individual circumstance.”

However, despite the reassurance from Ministers, it is still unclear whether council chiefs will allow the bells to keep ringing.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “We have now received a detailed response from the Scottish Government and are in the process of studying this carefully with a view to finding a way forward the majority of Gala residents would find acceptable.”

But they added: “On first reading, the Government does not appear to be willing to alter the legislation.”

Hundreds of readers signed up to the Border Telegraph’s Loud and Proud in an effort to force a rethink.

Galashiels and Langlee Community Council secretary Pauline Ward pictured left), who supported us, said: “SBC sought the advice of the Scottish Government so now it is only fair that it follows it and listens to the majority.

“The bells are not a nuisance - the bumbling bureaucrats who proposed silencing them are.”

The peel tower clock, which stands above a statue of a Border Reiver, was built to honour the local men who died in World War I and has sounded every hour since 1928.

Comments