Machynlleth Town Council has pledged to repair the town’s clock tower.

During their monthly meeting, Machynlleth Town Council discussed the need to budget for necessary repairs to the clock in the town centre.

Acting mayor Cllr Tony Jones said: “The clock we have at the moment has stopped. The people from England who would normally repair it can’t come up at the moment.

“But to repair this clock, it would cost £12,000. The problem is there is a rotten wooden stage in the middle that needs to be replaced entirely.”

Cllr Ann MacGarry highlighted the replacement of the timber would be a separate cost: “I think we would need to deal with the timber before they do the work.”

The mayor and Cllr Richie Gaskell said “many carpenters and contractors” have taken a look at the issue.

Cllr Michael Williams commented: “The town clock is the responsibility of the town council. Over the years, the urban council has put aside money to fix the clock; we have had grants.

“I cannot imagine us not budgeting for the necessary repairs for the clock. It’s one of our responsibilities to the community.”

Cllr Simon Morpeth suggested the council investigate applying for the funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Cllr MacGarry said: “We could put in to do it and then maybe fundraise because local people might be keen to help, but I don’t think we can wait for a Heritage Fund grant because that might take a while.”

She added: “There is more work than I thought would need to be done initially, and it’s going to deteriorate really quickly. We would have to renegotiate a price if we wait until the next financial year.”

The clock was built by the residents of Machynlleth to celebrate the coming of age of the eldest son of the Fifth Marquess of Londonderry, who lived at Y Plas. Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest, Viscount Castlereagh, turned 21 on 16 July 1873, but family bereavement put paid to the planned celebrations.

A year later, on 16 July 1874, the clock’s foundation stone was laid amid festivities. Public subscriptions raised enough money to build the clock tower.

A competition to design the clock tower was won by architect Henry Kennedy, from Bangor, and his design was built by local builder Edward Edwards.

The council resolved to include repairs to the clock in the budget for the next financial year.