No Time For a Change of Ownership
| Published: 4th August 2008 01:25 |
Billericay Town Council members have rejected the opportunity to take ownership of the High Street clock that hangs on the side of St Mary Magdalene church.
The landmark, which was offered to the council free of charge, was originally erected in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. Costing around £150 to maintain on an annual basis, the clock has however been the recipient of more costly repair work and indeed in October saw current owners Basildon Council incur a £15,000 refurbishment bill.
"time bomb"
Ultimately it was the risk of further repair costs that guided the town council's "no" decision and saw Councillor John Buchanan, chairman of the planning committee, say "It would have been like a ticking time bomb for residents, that's about the size of it. Basildon council has owned it since 1897 so a few more years won't do them any harm."
Councillor Edgar Guest, chairman of the council's finance committee, added "I don't think there is any danger of Basildon council coming down and dismantling it and taking it back to Basildon. I think we should say thanks but no thanks. All that was repaired before was the outer casing and brackets, I dread to think what it would cost if the mechanism went wrong."
