Portobello’s town hall clock will tick again for the first time in 20 years.
At a meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee today (Thursday 18 September), elected members agreed to repair and reinstate the historic timepiece using £150,000 of funds from Edinburgh's Common Good Fund.
The 157-year-old clock, which was gifted to the people of Portobello in 1876 by local Councillor and Lord Provost James Falshaw, had deteriorated and was removed in 2004. Following significant repairs to ironwork and the structure of the building, the community has called for the clock to be replaced.
Councillor Mandy Watt, Finance and Resources Convener, said:
The return of Porty’s historic Burgh clock will be welcome news to many. It has been in storage for many years and it’s time we got on with restoring it and putting it back in its rightful place.
These works will be funded by the Common Good Fund, a legacy fund which helps us to maintain historic community assets. Use of the Common Good Fund is also allowing us to carry out much needed repair work to South Queensferry Harbour, the Scott Monument and Calton Hill.