£282k revamp of Carillon approved
BOROUGH councillors have agreed the council should pay for a £282,000 Loughborough Carillon Tower restoration project if funding can not be secured from elsewhere.
A report, presented to Charnwood Borough Council’s full council last Monday (November 6), said a number of surveys - including a drone inspection - revealed parts of the building have deteriorated over the years.
Councillors heard the Carillon Tower, which will celebrate its centenary in 2023, is in need of repairs and cleaning and a £282,000 refurbishment package is proposed.
The proposed works include: stone and brickwork repairs and cleaning, minor repairs to the copper roof, and the bronze memorial plaques would get a spruce.
A £103,000 refurbishment of the 47 bells and clavier by John Taylor Bell Foundry is also included in the price.
The report states: “The Carillon has long been recognised as a unique selling point for Loughborough and in April 2015 the council installed new Welcome to Loughborough road signs on the highway approaches to the town using the image of the Carillon in its promotion.
“The proposed works will conserve and enhance the borough’s historic and cultural environment, settlement identity and landscape character.
“The councils investment is considered appropriate and will safeguard the building for the future.”
The report states it is hoped money for the works can be secured through grant funding from the War Memorials Trust - which can cover up to 75 per cent of the cost.
But full council agreed if the bid is unsuccessful, the council will cover the full cost of the scheme itself.
Now the report has been approved by full council, a report will be submitted to the Cabinet meeting scheduled for November 16. This report will seek approval for matters relating to the delivery of the scheme. It can be found at: charnwood.gov.uk/committees/cabinet