£20k repair bill for landmark clock

One of Wolverhampton's most precious landmarks is being tidied up as part of a £20,000 project. Dangerous steps at the base of Tettenhall Clock will be removed, while land around the historic monument in Upper Green will also be spruced up.

Council bosses say the work will start within days and is expected to be completed in March. Campaigners were promised the improvements would be carried out in 2006, when an air raid shelter near to the clock was filled with a special concrete in a bid to preserve it and allow it to be be re-excavated in future.

Wolverhampton City Council came under fire over the move by the opposition Tory councillors and history enthusiasts, who wanted the gem brought back to life as an educational tool for school pupils.

But council officers have been praised for "keeping their promise" with the latest project.

Tettenhall Wightwick Conservative councillor Andrew Wynne said: "The area around the clock is a Tettenhall landmark and I am really pleased these environmental improvements are to be carried out.

"Many residents have said how the green should be kept to a high standard by the council, and everyone is pleased the council has taken note of that.

"Everyone was very disappointed when the council filled in the air raid shelter and at the time, it was promised some works would be carried out. I am pleased to see they have kept their promise."

The Baroque-style clock was built to commemorate the coronation of George V and it was presented to Tettenhall by rich landowner Edward Swindley on June 22 in 1911.

But after remaining silent since the mid-1980s, Wolverhampton City Council ploughed £3,000 to repair its mechanism and get it chiming once again in 2004.