Highbridge’s town clock is to be boarded up while a new appeal is launched to find £20,000 to fund a new clock, town councillors decided this week.
Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report that two of the three faces are set to be boarded up with decorative panels due to a lack of district council money to make much-needed repairs and keep all the clock’s faces running on time.
Members of Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Town Council considered the future of the public clock at their meeting on Monday (September 7th).
Following advice from specialist clock repairers Gillet & Johnstone, who had quoted almost £3,000 to repair it, a further structural survey of the concrete pillar underneath it has confirmed that cracks (pictured below) are the result of corrosion of the steel reinforcement.
Town clerk Eileen Shaw told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The cost of putting this right, with no guarantee that further cracks will not appear at a later date, plus the cost of a survey of the electrical supply to the clock, and the hiring of scaffolding to undertake all the necessary work, makes the total repair bill considerably more than the original £3,000.”
Councillors have therefore decided to launch a public appeal for the cost of a new clock, to be mounted on a steel column with an anticipated cost in the region of £15,000 to £20,000, at a suitable location in Highbridge, preferably Jubilee Gardens, subject to the agreement of the landowners.
Mrs Shaw added: “Anyone interested in supporting this initiative should contact the Town Clerk, either by writing to the council offices in Jaycroft Road, by e-mail or by telephoning 01278 788088. All donations will be publicly acknowledged, and any funding received will be specifically ring-fenced for this project.”
“It is anticipated that this could some time to research and implement. So, as a temporary measure, the Town Council will follow its original plan to cover the incorrect faces of the current clock with an illustration of the Town Council’s official coat of arms at a cost estimated to be in the region of £750, including the hire of the necessary scaffolding.”
“The council feels that this will clearly demonstrate that care is being taken over the appearance of the clock in the interim period until such time as the funding for a replacement can be found.”
“Members acknowledged the efforts of Cllr Joe Leach to bring this matter to the Council’s attention, and were pleased to note that to date donations totalling £2,290 have been received towards the cost of the restoration of the Town Clock.”
Burnham-On-Sea.com gave its backing to the public appeal for cash from the start and we also revealed last month the design of the proposed new clock in Highbridge, as pictured below.
