A special event to signal the return of clock chimes to Burntisland is to be held after they were silenced several months ago.
Townsfolk are set to make a day of it a week on Saturday to celebrate the clock’s reinstatement following months of talks about the issue between locals and council officials.
The chimes had been switched off at nightfall last November after council officials received a single complaint about the noise sparking anger from many residents and the area’s community council, who were dismayed at the decision.
Such was the extent of that anger, a petition bearing 1100 signatures was even presented to Fife Council, calling for the chimes to be reinstated.
Discussions between various interested parties then ensued in a bid to find a solution and a compromise was eventually reached, with a quieter electronic recording of the bells now to be played from the Burgh Chambers clock overnight.
To mark the milestone in the town’s history the community council has organised the Back in Chimes event at 2pm on August 27, which will begin with an official switch-on at the Burgh Chambers. There will also be a fancy dress parade along the High Street and a family fun day on the Links.
Community council member Morag Douglas, who has campaigned for the chimes to be reinstated, said she believed it was only fitting to mark the occasion with a big celebration after months of uncertainty.
“Over the last few weeks the council and the clock contractor have been working to get the recording made to be used overnight and the sound right,” she said. “We are assured that everything is going fine and all is ready for the switch-on on the 27th.
“After nearly a year we will be delighted to have the chimes back. I also hope that as many people as possible will come out on August 27 to help us celebrate the fact that we reached a solution that allowed us to keep our historic clock chime.”
The chimes will sound as normal from the Burgh Chambers during the day but will switch to the new recording which will be set at a level compliant with the legal limits overnight.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that the Burntisland Showmen, who have been in town for their annual stint on the Links, have put money back into the town for everyone’s benefit after the community council asked them if they could provide children’s and family rides for the forthcoming chimes event.
The showmen generously offered to pay for the whole event if the council allowed them to stay open for an extra five days up to and including August 27 and that has been agreed.
Those attractions will stay open in a small area of the Links with limited hours and measures taken to reduce noise.
A fundraising car boot sale will also be held as part of the celebrations and anyone wanting to reserve a table at the cost of £5 per car should contact Isabel Smith on 01592 873226.