Historic bells may go silent ... af ter one noise complaint
THEY have chimed every hour on the hour from a historic clock tower for more than a century.
But this old set of church bells risks being muffled for the first time – after only one complaint about noise.
A sole disgruntled neighbour says the sound is particularly loud when they are in their bedroom.
But residents living beside the West Church bells in Dalkeith, Midlothian, have rallied round to save the bells – which have been heard in the town since the 1890s.
The bells are in a former church, which is now used as business
‘Sound is part of our heritage’
premises. A letter from Midlothian Environmental Health has warned the occupier, Charles Taylor, to find a way to reduce the noise.
The letter states: ‘Noise from the bells during night-time hours is a significant increase in level above the pre-existing background noise levels when measured in the complainant’s bedroom, and is subjectively intrusive.
‘Due to the age and type of the mechanism you are unable to prevent the clock from chiming between 11pm and 7am... you could investigate reasonable steps to reduce the level of noise, eg install dense acoustic boarding to the slatted openings inside the tower in the direction of the complainant’s house.
‘If this is feasible, I could then reassess the noise level to determine whether the reduction achieved resolves the problem.’
But not all neighbours agree that the bells need to be silenced. Ruth and Alastair Sutherland say they are important to the community.
They said: ‘We enjoy the sound greatly and consider it to be part of Dalkeith’s heritage.
‘We feel it unfair that you should request that the bell be quietened because of the complaint of one newcomer to the area.
‘We have lived in the Manse, right next door to West Church, since 2002 and it did take us a couple of weeks to get used to the bell but now we miss it if it ever stops.’ The couple proposed that the objecting resident try to find a way to reduce the noise of the bells from inside his own home.
They said: ‘If the complainant cannot get used to the chimes then we suggest that you ask him/ her to take steps to muffle the sound within their own property.
‘Mr Taylor has maintained the bell for over 20 years at his own expense for the benefit of the surrounding neighbours and the town of Dalkeith. The bell has been chiming since the 19th century and we really would like the tradition to be continued.’
A Midlothian Council spokesman said: ‘We can confirm we are investigating a noise complaint regarding bells chiming at a former church on Old Edinburgh Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian, which is now used as business premises.’
Mr Taylor said: ‘It would not be productive to comment at this time.’