Almost a year after a single complaint led to the silencing of a Fife town’s historic chimes, a party has been held to mark their reinstatement.
A huge ding-dong developed last year after Burntisland’s town clock was switched off by Fife Council following a lone complaint about the noise.
There was a storm of controversy and a petition urging the council to reverse its decision quickly attracted well over 1100 signatures.
It is thought that the clock, part of the Burgh Chambers, has been keeping time in the town for over 150 years.
Through peacetime and war alike, its cheery chimes every quarter of an hour ensured residents always knew the time of day or night.
However, it was silenced following a complaint that the noise, traditionally audible throughout the town, was keeping one resident awake.
The local community council was dismayed when the chimes were cut and a spirited campaign swung into action.
After months of debate, a compromise was eventually reached. A quieter electronic recording of the bells will now be played from the Burgh Chambers clock overnight.
To mark the reinstatement, a Back In Chimes event was held on Saturday.
Featuring a fancy dress parade along the High Street, the celebration also included a family fun day on the Links.
Community council member Morag Douglas, who had campaigned tirelessly for the chimes to be reinstated, said it was a fitting way to mark ultimate victory following 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. “After nearly a year we are delighted to have the chimes back.
“We did not see why Fife Council should change what has happened for 150 years because one person complained,” she added.
The chimes will sound as normal from the Burgh Chambers during the day but have been switched to the new recording set at a level compliant with the legal limits overnight.