Bells continue to ring Loud and Proud

Ally McGilvray • Published 8 Sep 2009 14:15 1 Comment

COUNCIL chiefs have confirmed the bells on the war memorial in Galashiels will continue to chime in future - a year after the Border Telegraph revealed there was no threat.

Scottish Borders Council was considering slapping a curfew on the bells at the clock tower adjoining the Burgh Chambers between 1am and 7.15am after a nearby bed-and-breakfast owner complained about the noise - despite overwhelming opposition.

It claimed it had a duty to get rid of the so-called noise nuisance after an investigation concluded they were too loud.

The local authority argued it would be committing a criminal offence under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 if it didn't.

But hundreds of readers signed up to the Border Telegraph's campaign in an effort to force a rethink.

And, in August last year, the office of Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, revealed that the legislation was flexible and insisted common sense should prevail.

This week, in a statement, Council Leader David Parker said: "I can confirm that we will not be taking any further action in relation to the Galashiels war memorial bells as the original complaint has now been withdrawn."

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• 

  bill ramsay
  Unregistered User
  Sep 15, 01:04
  Report comment

  HellornI used to live in Gala, I'm in Auckland NZ now. My Dad, Jim Ramsay, was the manager at the Capitol, latterly the Kingsway, and now, ironically, the Pavilion.
  
  Our house was within the main cinema building, my bedroom overlooked the roof of Forte's cafe, and I had direct line of sight to the war memorial clock tower. Never needed a clock in the bedroom, day and night i could see the tower.
  
  Never worried about the noise either. Strikes me that some people will complain about anything.
  
  Good to hear that common sense has surfaced.
  
  kind regards
  
  Bill Ramsay
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

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