Three councilors in Rothesay on Argyll’s Isle of Bute have three weeks to get funding to – would you believe it – buy back the town’s historic bell. In an act of thoughtless cost cutting, housebuilders Fyne Homes gave the bell to a demolition firm, Burnfield Demolition, in return for their taking it away.

Sheepfaced director of Fyne Homes, Alastair MacDougall explained to The Buteman: ‘”The demolition, facade retention and archaeological works to the former council chambers were very complex and therefore expensive. The bell had to be removed to facilitate the renovation works and this involved bringing heavy lifting equipment to the island.  In order to reduce costs to Fyne Homes, Burnfield Demolition have agreed to savings in the contract by removing the bell free of charge, and in return they will gain ownership of the bell’.

The three local Councillors, led by Len Scoular, workin to save the bell, plan to apply to the Rothesay Common Good Fund to buy back the bell. S

Surely there’s a more appropriate answer for the community. Fyne Homes and Burnfield Demolition could donate it to Rothesay in recognition of its true owner.

The bell, cast in 1876 at a cost of £108-16-07 has recently ony been tolled to mark the funeral of  serving or former Provosts of the Royal Burgh. The last tine it was heard was on 29th April 2006 when it tolled for the funeral of Donald MacPhail, the last surviving Provost of Rothesay.

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