Wolstanton's church clock falls silent after 137 years following a single noise complaint

The chimes of St Margaret's Church clock in Wolstanton have been switched off after one complaint to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, and the council's own leader now wants the decision reversed.

THE SIGNAL BRIEF

What's new: The clock at St Margaret's Church, Wolstanton, stopped chiming at 6pm on Thursday 12 November after Environmental Health officers acted on a noise complaint from one resident.

By the numbers: 137 years of chiming since 1889, broken only by two World Wars and maintenance.

Why it matters: The clock is a public clock owned and maintained by the borough council, and the council's leader says he wants the decision overturned.

For the first time outside wartime and maintenance, Wolstanton woke up this morning without the familiar chimes of St Margaret's.

The clock on the Grade II* listed church has chimed since 6pm on 30 September 1889. At 6pm on Thursday, it went quiet.

In a statement, the church's Parochial Church Council (PCC) said a local resident had complained to the Environmental Health department at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, and that the officer dealing with the case had instructed the church to silence the chimes. They will stay silent "whilst discussions and a solution are worked upon," the PCC said. The clock will carry on keeping time.

A council clock, silenced by the council

Many residents may not know this, but although the clock sits in the church tower, it is a public clock. Responsibility for it passed from Wolstanton District Council to Newcastle Borough Council in 1931, and the borough council services and maintains it.

The PCC stressed that the decision does not affect the church's bells or bell ringing. Those are the church's own responsibility and will carry on.

"We respect the right for all the community to have the enjoyment of their home and property without any harm to health," the statement said. The PCC added that it hoped and prayed for "a satisfactory solution as the clock has played a large part in Church and Community life for the last 137 years."

Council leader: "I want this decision reversed"

Within hours of the statement being posted, the Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Jonathan Gullis, said he wanted to know how the decision had been made.

"I do not yet know the full circumstances regarding how this decision was reached, and I have asked the Chief Executive for an urgent review of what has happened and the decision making process," he said.

"My position is I want this decision reversed and the chimes restored as soon as possible. They have been part of Wolstanton's community life for 137 years, and our heritage matters."

Simon Tagg, Leader of the Conservative Group on the borough council, said that if the council had imposed the restriction, "it must be overturned so that church bells can ring as they always have." May Bank councillor Finn Swain said he would be taking the matter up with officers directly.

How Wolstanton has reacted

The reaction from residents has been swift and overwhelmingly in favour of the chimes. Hundreds have commented on the church's post. Many describe hearing the clock from their gardens, on the school run and through the night, and a petition has been launched to bring the chimes back.

Bell ringers have said that the fortnightly practice, on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 8pm to 9pm, is expected to carry on.

What the law says

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, councils have a legal duty to investigate noise complaints. For noise to count as a statutory nuisance, it must unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home, or injure health or be likely to.

Similar cases elsewhere in the country, such as Witheridge in Devon, have often ended in a compromise, for example silencing the chimes overnight but keeping them during the day.

What happens next

It is not yet clear whether the council served a formal notice or gave an informal instruction, how many complaints it received, or whether a compromise was considered.

The Staffordshire Signal has asked Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and St Margaret's Church for comment and will update this story when we hear back.

Have you lived with the Wolstanton chimes? Tell us what they mean to you.

Why the Signal exists

Real news takes time. Thanks for taking yours.

You've just read a story that took time to get right. No clickbait, no racing to be first, no ads chasing you down the page.

I started The Staffordshire Signal because I got fed up of local news that chased clicks instead of stories. We're independent, not-for-profit, IMPRESS-regulated and owned right here, so we answer to nobody but you.

The honest bit: local news only survives if local people choose it. If we don't, it goes.

Jenna GoodwinFounder and Editor, The Staffordshire Signal

Love what we do?

Buy us an oatcake! Cheese and bacon, if you're feeling generous. Every tip goes straight into local reporting.

Buy us an oatcake

Miss a proper paper?

Staffordshire's only regional printed magazine, full of stories worth sitting down with, delivered to your door.

Get it delivered

Follow on WhatsApp

Our stories, dropped straight into your phone. No group chat chaos, we promise.

Join the channel

What's On

Find something good to do this week

Markets, gigs, history talks and family days out across Staffordshire. Running an event? Add it to our guide and let the county know.

See what's on Add your event

For local businesses

Run a Staffordshire business?

Our readers keep the Signal going, and the businesses who advertise with us help keep it free for everyone. Reach people who read to the end, across our magazine, Signal Weekly, Signal TV and website.

Enquire about advertising