Baker Street could be belted out across Paisley on Sma' Shot Day as plans to get the town clock chiming again take a step forward.
From next year, the clock attached to Paisley Town Hall will not only offer Buddies the time but local anthems too thanks to a £16,250 grant from Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
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The money will be used to install an electronic mechanism that will bring the clock carillon back into use.
And the mechanism, which will go on public display, will allow music to be played from the clock tower on special occasions, with Buddies being given the opportunity to chose songs for the playlist later this year.
Work to upgrade the clock will coincide with the current refurbishment of the listed building and are scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from our friends at HES, which will allow us to bring the clock carillon back into use by converting it into an electronic mechanism, which will go on public display.
“This will allow the town hall clock to play different tunes to mark special occasions, and we and Renfrewshire Leisure – who operate the building - will seek the views of community groups to help us identify what those could be.”
The musical operation pays homage to how the clock originally operated when it was built in 1882.
Housed within the tallest of the two towers at Paisley Town Hall, the clock was installed alongside a chime of bells that could play a different tune for every day of the month.
The council spokesman added: “The funding from HES will also allow our colleagues at Renfrewshire Leisure to create a community engagement programme and film to document the clock carillon work and raise awareness of this unusual instrument and its local significance.
“The work will complement the ongoing transformation of the town hall into a landmark entertainment venue which will preserve its historic features, add modern facilities and new rooms, and allow this much-loved building stay at the heart of life in the town for generations to come.”
Paisley’s town clock has been besieged with problems over the past ten years.
The local authority forked out £13,000 to fix two aspects of the clock’s operation in 2013.
A new mechanism for the clock timing was installed, which also had a back-up override so that the clock continued working in the event of a power cut.
The original, which dated back to 1882, was also replaced.
And in 2017 the clock fell silent again, with the further problems being investigated.
The clock is one of 20 projects across Scotland that has secured support in this month’s allocation of the Historic Environment Support Fund.
It is used to support various one-off, heritage-related projects in Scotland.
Grants are awarded to schemes which use the historic environment to make a positive difference to their local area, supporting local economies, inspiring and engaging communities with the rich heritage on their doorstep, and ensuring that the historic buildings that give places their distinct character are protected and managed for future generations.
