The ownership and future of a North Yorkshire town centre clock with a possible £20,000 repair bill remains uncertain.
Efforts to establish who owns an electric clock at 86, Newborough in Scarborough town centre have so far not yielded any results.
Time could be running out for the piece of horological history, as it poses potential health and safety risks and could be removed.
North Yorkshire Council officers have recently said they do not think the authority owns it, but are unaware of who does.
In January, Scarborough Town councillors ruled out paying more than £20,000 for repairs to the Westborough-Newborough clock following a request from the town’s civic society.
According to Historic England, the electric clock dates from 1988.
The ownership of the clock is unknown, councillors were told in January, and North Yorkshire Council was planning on removing it over concerns about a health and safety risk, when Scarborough Civic Society stepped in to try and save it.
In a recent update to councillors, an officer said:
“I’ve checked with colleagues across the property, highways and culture teams, and we’ve been unable to find any records showing that North Yorkshire Council owns or has maintenance responsibility for this clock.”
“As far as we are aware, it has never been recognised as a council asset by Scarborough or North Yorkshire [councils], and given our current budget constraints, we’re unable to assume responsibility or take on maintenance or repair obligations.
“If there are records indicating that the council holds responsibility, we’d be happy to review this and reconsider our position.”
A quote for the repair and renovation of the clock from Time Assured Ltd stands “in excess of £20,000”, according to a town council report, which notes: “The Civic Society has advised they are unable to fund this project and the request is for the town council to consider funding the works in full.”
Members of the town council have asked that anyone with information about the clock reach out to the authority.
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