MEMBERS of Minehead Chamber of Commerce, who have looked after the town hall clock since the building was sold by the town council in 2017, were this week celebrating the fact that the iconic landmark will remain alive and ticking when the property is converted into a two bedroom flat.

When new owners Williton-based 599 Developments successfully applied for change of use for the 99-year-old building last week, Somerset West and Taunton planning officer Jeremy Guise said the applicants had agreed to keep the clock going and maintain it.

When the building was sold, David Lethaby, a member of the chamber, took on the responsibility of climbing stairs and a ladder into the tower every Thursday to wind the clock – and has continued to do so ever since.

“We were concerned about the future of the clock after the building was converted into a dwelling but have breathed a sigh of relief over what could be a satisfactory result,” said chamber chairman Graham Sizer.

“It was our intervention which kept the clock ticking. We quickly made contact with the new owners who arranged a set of keys which enabled us to climb into the tower to do the weekly wind. Since then, it has been up to David of Greenslade Taylor Hunt estate agents, to squeeze through the loft spaces every Thursday.

“Not only did he volunteer but he was the only one thin enough to do the job!”

Mr Sizer added: “We hope the original mechanism will stay in place but the new development may make access more difficult. Thankfully, these old mechanisms can be converted to electricity and remotely controlled.

“The engineers, from a specialist firm in Derby whom the chamber pay to maintain the clock, can do the work, so hopefully the future is secure. Until that happens, David has agreed to continue.”

Mr Lethaby’s work in keeping Minehead on time has been appreciated on social media when he was praised as ‘a super-hero’ and a ‘local legend’.