Innerleithen ding dong

David O'Leary • Published 9 Mar 2010 12:12 1 Comment

A REAL ding-dong has taken place over Innerleithen's Memorial Hall clock.

The divisive matter has arisen after one local resident complained to the council about the clock's hourly peals throughout the night.

At Monday's night's community council meeting in the Memorial Hall, as the chimes of the contentious clock, which was donated to the town by William Muir in 1964, fittingly marked each hour; locals, community councillors and elected councillors made their views plainly known on the subject.

Also in attendance were, Ken Jones, of Scottish Borders Council's Environmental Services and, Susan Shaw, of its legal department.

They sat and heard as community council chairman, Ross McGinn, read aloud a host of emails all in favour in leaving the clock as it was.

Nearby B&B owner, Lesley Foster, of Chapel Street, also told the meeting: "I've never had a complaint from any of my guests regarding the clock. In fact, many have commented on how lucky we are to have such a nice tradition."

Scottish Borders Council's Director of Social Work and Innerleithen resident, Andrew Lowe, said: "The clock is a delight that marks the rhythmn of the day, I defend the right of anyone to complain but I wholeheartedly support the chimes remaining."

Councillors Herd, Garvie and Logan also took the same view with Councillor Herd commenting: "You shouldn't buy a house alongside a clock if you don't like the sound of it."

After hearing these and several other vehement protestations for the clocks chimes to remain, chairman Ross McGinn moved to declare that the status quo remain.

However, Ken Jones, of SBC, was of a different mind and said: "Legislation gives me no discretion to manoeuvre. If we say to the complainant that the status quo must remain then they would have a clear case against us and and a right to complain to the Government Ombusdman.

"It's our view that the clock should be silenced between the hours of midnight and 7am."

Susan Shaw then reaffirmed this, declaring that legally the council must be seen to act, whether it be one complaint or a hundred.

And that this would still be the case even if the complaint was withdrawn.

This then caused consternation amongst all those present, leading Councillor Garvie to ask for a report to be compiled for presentation to the next Tweeddale Area Committee.

He also stated that this meeting will be held in Innerleithen to allow locals to attend.

Speaking afterwards, community council chairman Ross McGinn said: "I'm taken aback by the council's legal position.

"There is an overwhelming desire in the town for the clock to be left as it is. This is a clear instance of the tail wagging the dog.

"It can take the council years to deal with noisy neighbours but they get one complaint in the face of 99% of the community and they jump on it like this."

A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council said: "Legal services are preparing a report on the Innerleithen bells issue and this will be presented to Tweeddale Area Committee. Following this, it is anticipated that there will be further discussion with the community council."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 05 Mar 10

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• 

  Graeme Wilkie
  Unregistered User
  Apr 11, 20:08
  Report comment

  "Visit Scotland" the advert stated with the backdrop of Snowboarders, mountain bikers and glorious views of Scotland. So I took them up on their offer and decided to go back to the Borders for the first time in many a year.
  
  I contacted a friend who I knew that lived in Innerleithen, a place I had visited in my youth; was centrally located for hill walking and not to mention the magnetic charms of an odd pint of the legendary Traquair ale.
  
  So off I drove from the North East of England to to the picturesque town of Innerleithen looking forward to a long peaceful weekend, getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
  
  After greetings from my buddy and a few hours of catching up, it was off to bed, looking forward to a great day out on the hills, walking up over the moors to Peebles.
  
  I was encouraged to my room at the street side of his house with the phrase "I hope you have a good night". Thinking nothing of it I responded in kind and lay down for what I expected would be a gloriously dream filled sleep.
  
  After about ten minutes chimes started. As it was 11:45 I was not overly upset by this as I knew the good burghers of Innerleithen would have the common sense to silence the bells after bewitching hour.
  
  Midnight came and with what I sensed a last flurry, the chimes dolled out the finality of the day. Ah, to sleep, I hunkered down and lay quietly waiting for the land of nod. Then it came again; chimes; quarter past the hour. What? Must be a mistake, I lay there waiting, sure enough half past the hour came along and like the clanging of the dammed on the gates of hades the bells cacophony rang round the streets of eastern Innerleithen.
  
  And so it went on, all night, each hour drummed home with the ascending number of "dongs". With every bong my humour worsened. My rage at those luddite Burghers not even capable of adding a tiny piece of technology to allow the bells to stop their dreadful toll through the wee small hours. My rage at "Visit Scotland" for not reminding me that coming back to the borders would be injurious to my mental health.
  
  Akin to that well known Parisian bell ringer of old, I well and truly had the hump.
  
  The next morning I was like a bear with a sore head, I asked my "good" friend if the thing was ever stopped, he shrugged and said one word "Tradition". A word used to justify all manner of sins through the ages and one that has cost the lives of many a good man.
  
  Well, a day in the hills gradually cleared my ill spirit and a couple of "Gods Fuel" in the Traquair arms set me up for what I hoped would be a night of bliss, for even the trenches of the First Great War allowed some sleep to the weary. Off to bed went I, off to sleep went I, awake at 2 came I, ranting by 3 was I.
  
  By the time the sun began to raise his weary head and the dawns chorus drowned out the chimes I had managed 14 minutes and 59 seconds of a fitful, hesitant thing that barely past as rest before that incessant, traditional, clanging resumed.
  
  I left a day early, waving a clenched fist at that clock, vowing to never return until the pages of this great paper heralded in a new age of night time silence.
  
  Good Burghers and Tweeddale Councillors, hear this plea.
  
  SWITCH OFF THE BLOODY BELLS AT NIGHT!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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