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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/30/bell-on-historic-village-clock-could-be-silenced-after-noise-complaints
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| Bell on historic village clock could be silenced after noise complaints | Bell on historic village clock could be silenced after noise complaints |
| (4 months later) | |
| The bell on a historic village clock may no longer toll after villagers claimed its newly restored 24-hour chime was too noisy. | The bell on a historic village clock may no longer toll after villagers claimed its newly restored 24-hour chime was too noisy. |
| The clock, a prominent centrepiece in the moorland village of Delph in Greater Manchester, has been keeping time for the past 119 years. | The clock, a prominent centrepiece in the moorland village of Delph in Greater Manchester, has been keeping time for the past 119 years. |
| But custodians of the Millgate Arts Centre on which the clock sits could be hit with a noise abatement order if the hourly chimes are found to be too loud. | But custodians of the Millgate Arts Centre on which the clock sits could be hit with a noise abatement order if the hourly chimes are found to be too loud. |
| Oldham council confirmed a complaint had been received about the volume of the bell. | Oldham council confirmed a complaint had been received about the volume of the bell. |
| Ian Shepherd, the chair of the arts centre, has been inundated with responses on social media after raising the alarm about the intervention by environmental health officers. | Ian Shepherd, the chair of the arts centre, has been inundated with responses on social media after raising the alarm about the intervention by environmental health officers. |
| “Most are of the opinion it is like sheep and owls; it’s part and parcel of living in a community like we do,” Shepherd told the Saddleworth Independent. “Most want to hear it chiming all night,” he added. “However, there has been a complaint to the council who could deem it to be a statutory nuisance. | “Most are of the opinion it is like sheep and owls; it’s part and parcel of living in a community like we do,” Shepherd told the Saddleworth Independent. “Most want to hear it chiming all night,” he added. “However, there has been a complaint to the council who could deem it to be a statutory nuisance. |
| “If certain levels of decibels are exceeded, legally they cannot ignore it. I am aware churches have been forced to silence their bells under a noise abatement order because they have been considered too noisy.” | “If certain levels of decibels are exceeded, legally they cannot ignore it. I am aware churches have been forced to silence their bells under a noise abatement order because they have been considered too noisy.” |
| World's oldest village cricket green under threat from developers, club says | |
| Under one possible compromise, the chimes could be restricted to daylight hours. | Under one possible compromise, the chimes could be restricted to daylight hours. |
| The clock first rang out in 1899. But last month it had to be repaired by Cumbrian clock experts after a hammer mechanism got stuck. Locals wanted it to chime in time for Whit Friday as it traditionally starts off the celebrations in the morning. | The clock first rang out in 1899. But last month it had to be repaired by Cumbrian clock experts after a hammer mechanism got stuck. Locals wanted it to chime in time for Whit Friday as it traditionally starts off the celebrations in the morning. |
| Edna from Edna’s Cosy Café told the newspaper: “I actually don’t mind it, I don’t hear it a lot because of people talking. I can only hear it when I sit outside.” | Edna from Edna’s Cosy Café told the newspaper: “I actually don’t mind it, I don’t hear it a lot because of people talking. I can only hear it when I sit outside.” |
| Claire Holland from Redmonds Solicitors, whose new office is directly opposite the arts centre, said: “Everybody is really upset that someone’s complained. You can’t get much nearer than me and it doesn’t bother me. | Claire Holland from Redmonds Solicitors, whose new office is directly opposite the arts centre, said: “Everybody is really upset that someone’s complained. You can’t get much nearer than me and it doesn’t bother me. |
| “From a business point of view clients have asked where has the bell come from and say it’s really nice. It’s like bringing a traditional thing back into the village. | “From a business point of view clients have asked where has the bell come from and say it’s really nice. It’s like bringing a traditional thing back into the village. |
| “It’s not an issue at all, I just think it’s a really nice addition to the village and I am glad that they have restored it.” | “It’s not an issue at all, I just think it’s a really nice addition to the village and I am glad that they have restored it.” |
| Jayne Dixon, who posted a comment about the clock on Facebook, said: “My boss used to wind the original clock up twice a week in the early 60s. Nice to have it working again.” | Jayne Dixon, who posted a comment about the clock on Facebook, said: “My boss used to wind the original clock up twice a week in the early 60s. Nice to have it working again.” |
| Audrey Barrass said: “I lived on Millgate for 18 years and heard the clock every night. It was lovely. Accept what should always be in Delph or live somewhere else.” | Audrey Barrass said: “I lived on Millgate for 18 years and heard the clock every night. It was lovely. Accept what should always be in Delph or live somewhere else.” |
| Another local, Jake Green, added: “I lived at Millgate for the best part of 30 years. The bell can’t have been more than 10 metres from my bedroom and it never bothered me.” | Another local, Jake Green, added: “I lived at Millgate for the best part of 30 years. The bell can’t have been more than 10 metres from my bedroom and it never bothered me.” |
| An Oldham council spokesperson said: “We are looking into things and are considering all the options before any decision will be made.” | An Oldham council spokesperson said: “We are looking into things and are considering all the options before any decision will be made.” |
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