Stirling approves £870,000 historic clock rebuild

Stirling Council has agreed to spend £870,000 to rebuild a historic clocktower that was demolished in a failed conservation effort.

Councillors approved a plan by conservation experts that would reinstate the Christie Clock and retain as much of the original stonework as possible.

The much-loved city landmark, which stood for 117 years, was found to be unstable after an inspection by structural engineers.

Stirling Council said it had attempted to steady the tower, but it was controversially removed in an overnight demolition in September last year.

The C-listed clock was constructed in 1905 as a memorial to former Stirling Provost George Christie.

Conservation experts have drawn up a delivery programme that would see the rebuild in three phases, with the potential for completion by October 2026.

Stirling Council committed to its reinstatement in October last year.

A report in March estimated the cost of restoration to be £873,460.

Following work to identify the most cost-effective proposals, councillors have agreed to allocate funding to the project.

Stirling Council depute leader Gerry McGarvey said: "We appreciate the strength of feeling about what happened to this much-loved clock.

"It was incredibly difficult situation for everyone, but there was general consensus about honouring our commitment to the people of Stirling.

"Not everyone will agree with our decision at a time when Stirling Council, like other local authorities, faces a significant budget shortfall."

The council must now apply for retrospective listed building consent for the previous demolition of the clock and planning permission for the reconstruction.

The stonework was removed from site in September last year and has been kept in safe storage since.

In the aftermath of the demolition, Stirling Council and the Stirling City Heritage Trust, in association with Historic Environment Scotland, produced a strategy to secure the future of Stirling's historic assets.