A "beloved" village clock which has been rung for over 150 years has been forcibly silenced by a council following a single noise complaint from a local home-owner.
The clock - which takes pride of place on the tower of St John the Baptist's Church in Witheridge, Devon, and had rung out every 15 minutes for said 150 years - was banned from chiming overnight in December last year after the resident complained, prompting a furious backlash from residents.
The complaint had been filed to North Devon Council, which subsequently slapped Witheridge Parish Council with a noise abatement notice - muffling the bells after dark until the parties could come to an agreement.
The silence had prompted a Change.org petition by residents to restore the church's "cherished" familiar chimes which has reached over 300 signatures - almost a quarter of Witheridge's population.
Residents who started the petition said the church clock "is more than just a timekeeper" and is "an audible symbol of our shared heritage and community spirit"
The petition reads: "Our beloved church clock in Witheridge, Devon has chimed throughout two world wars, witnessed countless weddings and funerals, and has been a comforting presence for over 170 years.
"For us residents, it's not just a clock; it's an integral part of our village life. Recently, however, this cherished tradition was silenced following a noise abatement order issued due to a complaint from one of our community.
"This isn't just about the chime. It's about preserving our history and traditions that have been passed down through generations. The church clock is more than just a timekeeper; it is an audible symbol of our shared heritage and community spirit.
"We ask those with decision-making power to reconsider the noise abatement order on the Witheridge church clock chime. Let us preserve what makes Witheridge unique and maintain respect for its rich history while balancing modern needs."
MORE COUNCIL MADNESS:
David Gale said "one person controlling what the rest of the whole village have been used to for years" was unfair
Wikimedia Commons/Google
A solution was offered - though, at the cost of £2,000 - an automated silencer device, meaning the clock would only ring out on the hour between 7am and 11pm, and not at all in the night.
The church's vicar, Rev Adrian Wells, told the BBC he thought fitting the silencer was a "good compromise", but other residents weren't as keen.
75-year-old David Gale, who started the petition, said hearing the bells in the night was "fantastic and atmospheric", and slammed the response to the complaint.
Gale said: "Loads of residents speak about being awake in the night and hearing the comforting sound of the bell. If somebody lived near Big Ben and they decided they didn’t like the noise, they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
"It’s just the unfairness of one person controlling what the rest of the whole village have been used to for years - the clock has been ticking away."
Becka Cook, who signed the petition, said: "I believe one person’s grievance should not change or affect the joy of many... For hundreds of years the bells have chimed, and it’s criminal to silence them now!"
A North Devon Council spokesperson said: "The noise level from the clock bell was assessed by qualified and experienced officers of our environmental protection team.
"They considered the loudness, the frequency and duration of the noise. It was considered that the chime every 15 minutes was likely to wake or disturb the sleep of the complainant and other residents nearby.
"The council has been contacted by other residents expressing disappointment at the silencing of the clock bells. However, most of these were not in close proximity to the bells and unlikely to be significantly impacted by the noise."
But, according to reports in local media, the complainant has since moved out of the village.