Owners of hotel fail in attempts to silence Welsh town's famous clock
The owners wrote to the local council after a number of their visitors raised concerns. But the town council has rejected a request for the clock to be silenced at certain times of the day
The noisy clock divides the town with some believing it's a nice quirk and others arguing it shouldn't be chiming in the night
(Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)
The latest owners of a Welsh hotel have failed in their attempts to silence their town's famous clock during the night.
The proprietors of the Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth, which boasts online about being just a couple of hundred yards away from the ancient town's landmark clock, wrote to Machynlleth town council last month requesting the 152-year-old clock be silenced during the night time because it is annoying some of their guests.
Proprietors Huw Morgan and Gail Jenkins, who aren't the first owners to have issues with the noisy clock, wrote to the council after reviews were left online from guests suggesting it was difficult to sleep in certain parts of the Powys town centre's hotel because the neighbouring clock chimes every 15 minutes 24 hours a day.
One reviewer left a review titled: 'Fixed clock ruined our night.' He said: 'Nothing wrong with the hotel. Stayed in the Lloyd George room for £175 per night. Had an evening meal which we enjoyed.
'The problem is the clock which has now been fixed and which chimes every 15 minutes and then chimes on the hour. It kept us awake all night. Staff were nice and we liked the hotel.'
Another reviewer said he was relieved to have stayed in a room which was at the opposite side of the hotel to the clock. 'We had a room at the back overlooking the hills so the constantly chiming clock wasn't a problem except for one night when I couldn't sleep anyway because of the storm," he said.
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In their letter to the town council the hotel owners wrote that they were facing difficulties with their business due to the noisy clock, which is a proud Machynlleth landmark. It's understood a similar request to the landlord was made by a previous owner of the hotel several years ago and was also knocked back.
The current owners wrote to the council: 'We receive frequent complaints from guests. Particularly those attempting to sleep in the front bedrooms.'
They asked for the clock to be switched off during the night between the hours of 11.30pm and 7am for the sake of their business but the town council refused the application at a full council meeting on July 28.
The town council minutes on its own website states: 'A letter from the proprietors of the Wynnstay Hotel was discussed. It objected to the chiming of the town's clock at night time. Councillors felt the clock with its chiming is the character of the town since being built in the 19th century.
"Councillors voted by majority that the chiming will continue at day and night. The hotel proprietor has been informed of their decision.'
The noisy clock divides the town with some believing it's a nice quirk and others arguing it shouldn't be chiming in the night. People finding it difficult to sleep did get a reprieve before the clock tower was repaired two years ago, costing the council £55,000, after it had sat silent for approximately three years.
While it isn't a new issue the town clock dispute has grabbed the attention of the local community again with one resident – Phil Dowse – even taking it upon himself to write an ode to the beloved clock.
It reads: 'To save his guests his lie in bed, from sleepless nights and getting crazed, just get the Wynnstay double-glazed.' The windows of the Wynnstay are double-glazed already though.
Resident Alan Higgs said: "The clock has been there longer than anyone so be thankful that when you hear it chime you know you are still alive and have not gone deaf."
Another local Janet Humphreys argued: "I've lived by the town clock all my life. It's the biggest part of Machynlleth. Buy ear plugs if you don't like it."
Cllr Gareth Jones clarified: "Machynlleth town council resolved that the town clock should remain chiming through the night as it has always done when functioning properly. Everything which town councils resolve can be raised again six months later – that is just part of a council's standing orders procedure."
In north Devon last year a church clock was silenced after 150 years when a single resident complained of noise.
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