Peaceful end to ding-dong row over kirk bells

Errol: Noise complaint withdrawn after residents rally behind church campaign

The bells of Errol Parish Church will continue to ring at night after a noise nuisance complaint was withdrawn.

Environmental health officers dropped their investigation following discussions with Councillor Angus Forbes and the complainer.

That means the bells can ring on, much to the delight of the Rev John Macgregor and the local people who rallied in their support.

Mr Macgregor said he had been stunned by the community’s reaction.

He also thanked the person who contacted Perth and Kinross Council for being “gracious enough” to withdraw their complaint.

More than 150 people signed a petition calling for the bells to continue ringing, and more than 400 took to the village’s social media page to voice their support.

“When I first posted I thought I might get support from two or three people who post regularly on local issues,” said Mr Macgregor.

“I most certainly did not expect to get 400 or so people writing to back the bells. That is almost the entire population.”

Mr Macgregor said he had been told some people were more sensitive to noise than others but said he also believed the bells were part of village life.

“I have only been here at Errol for a year and when I arrived I did think to myself ‘do these bells ring all the time’, but now I don’t notice them.”

The resident claimed the bells disturbed them as they had their windows open during summer evenings.

Errol Parish Church’s bells, however, are mechanical and need to be wound up every three days, so they cannot just be switched on and off.

Mr Forbes, Conservative councillor for the Carse of Gowrie Ward, said he was delighted with the outcome of talks.

“After discussions between myself, the council’s environment team and the complainer, the complaint was withdrawn.

“I am absolutely delighted that the church bells will now ring on, hopefully for many hundreds of years, and that the issue has been resolved.

“The residents of Errol feel passionately about these bells, and rightly so.

“They are an integral part of village life.

“I have suggested that the church run a special service of thanks for the bells and I hope they will be able to offer this.”

Mr Macgregor said “I’m certainly up for that.”

Picture: Steve MacDougall. The Rev John Macgregor said he was stunned by the community’s support.