Noise row silences 200-year ringing of Beith church bell

A church bell that sounded every hour for more than 200 years has been silenced after a noise complaint.

The 24-hour ringing at Beith Parish Church in Ayrshire was stopped after a resident told council environmental health their sleep had been disturbed.

The Church of Scotland has now stopped the bell between 23:00 and 07:00.

A petition to restore the 24-hour chime has gathered more than 900 signatures. Organisers say the tradition is part of the Beith's "history and heritage".

Following the noise complaint, North Ayrshire Council asked the Church of Scotland to consider silencing the bell overnight.

The church's Kirk Session said members were "empathetic" and recognised it could be disturbing for some people.

A spokesperson said: "The Kirk Session took Environmental Health's suggestion on board, embracing the bible teaching of love thy neighbour as thyself."

However, Beith resident Bryan McWilliams, who has lived next to the church for twenty three years, has now launched a petition to reverse the move.

He believes the loss of the bell has disrupted the town's sense of community and identity.

He said: "The chiming clock is more than just a timekeeper. It serves as an audible connection to our history and heritage and has been chiming for 200 years.

"Many townsfolk have shared stories about how they've relied on these chimes throughout their lives - from knowing when it was time to head home as children playing in the streets, to relying on them during power outages.

"We understand that everyone's comfort is important. However, we believe that one person's discomfort should not outweigh a tradition loved by many and ingrained in our community for generations."

Beith Parish Church was built in 1810. Church archivist Tom Hart said there were previous discussions about the bell in the 1990s, however, the 24-hour tradition continued.

North Ayrshire Council said that the church was advised that, when assessing for nuisance, environmental health inspectors would consider the fact that the noise was for long-established cultural or religious reasons.