A Welsh hotelier couple's attempts to silence a much-loved town clock have been thwarted by their town council.
Huw Morgan and Gail Jenkins, owners of the Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth, Powys, wrote to the authority after receiving multiple "negative reviews" from guests about the 150-year-old bell tower keeping them awake during their stays.
In their letter to Machynlleth Town Council, the pair wrote: “We are facing difficulties to our business due to the chiming of the clock throughout the night.
"We receive frequent complaints from guests, particularly those attempting to sleep in the front bedrooms.
Huw Morgan and Gail Jenkins wrote to the council after receiving multiple 'negative reviews' from guests about the 150-year-old keeping them awake
|GETTY
“For some customers, it has spoilt their visit to Machynlleth and has led to negative reviews online."
The couple requested the council silence the clock between 11.30pm and 7am to "resolve the noise issue".
But the hoteliers' request was dismissed by town councillors, and the pair must now face a six-month wait until they can submit another proposal to quieten the chimes.
According to minutes from a council meeting in July, councillors jumped to the defence of the town's timekeeper, noting that the chimes represented the "character" of the town.
Mr Jones claimed 'for some customers it has spoilt their visit to Machynlleth'
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After the rejection, Mr Morgan said: "The clock is so important to the town, a tourist attraction, and as a local I love the clock, but I do believe it is a reasonable request to ask for the clock to be silenced during the night.
"My feeling is that the council didn't give this issue the discussion or attention that it needed.
"Moving forward, we've got several options including collecting the opinion of people and businesses near the clock.
"However, from a legal point, the noise pollution laws are usually used by residents rather than businesses so that is an issue for us."
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PICTURED: The Wynnstay Hotel. The hoteliers' request was dismissed by town councillors, and the pair must now face a six month wait until they can submit another proposal
|WYNNSTAY HOTEL
The business owners' letter was met with backlash from local residents on social media.
Ann Jones wrote: “The clock has been there longer than you, leave it alone," while Wyn Rogers fumed: “Imagine that. Taking over ownership of a hotel less than 20m away from a clock tower and then moan when it does what clocks do?!”
Mr Morgan said the complaints he had received were from “workers like railway engineers who need to sleep properly”, as well as tourists alike.
The Machynlleth Town Clock was silent for three years before undergoing repairs in 2023.
The landmark in the town, known as the "ancient capital of Wales", was repaired after a local campaign was launched to have it chiming in time for its 150th anniversary.
Following the council's £55,000 splurge on its restoration, it was set to chime every quarter hour, 24 hours a day.
GB News have approached Machynlleth Town Council for comment.