Funding for stairs and safety rail to open up town's views from Forres Tolbooth
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A PROJECT to develop the clock tower in one of the town’s most historic buildings is ticking along thanks to an injection of cash.
Forres Heritage Trust (FHT) has received £20,000 from the Berry Burn Community Fund to upgrade the walkway around the Tolbooth clock tower and turn it into a tourist attraction.
FHT chairman George Alexander confirmed the group looks after historic Forres centrepieces, the Tolbooth and Nelson's Tower.
He said: "Our plans are very ambitious and this funding is now going to enable us to proceed with the development. It will be used to make repairs around the Tolbooth walkway and carry out extensive pointing of the stonework around the clock tower. The funding will allow us to progress to stage two of our plans, making the walkway safe. We have to ensure that any works we carry out are done so in keeping with the building."
A new stairway providing access to the walkway is due to be installed in the next few weeks. Forres-based AJ Engineering has designed and fabricated the stairway.
AJE general manager, Graham Alexander, said: "The stairs are being coated. We had hoped to have them installed already but due to government restrictions regarding essential work we have had to hold fire."
He added: "The Tolbooth is one of the town’s oldest buildings and these new stairs will be robust enough to last for hundreds of years to come. The development is going to be a fantastic addition and will be another reason for people to visit our great town."
The old wooden stairs removal by volunteers revealed signatures believed to belong to labourers who worked on the tower in the early 20th century.
Chairman Alexander said: "There is always some little gem that you come across when carrying out renovations in a building with such historical significance. When AJ Engineering come to install the new staircase, we will ask the workers to continue this tradition and put their signatures somewhere too."
He added: "Not many people know about the walkway - our aim is to make it safely accessible for locals and tourists. Once the pointing is completed, we will look at getting a safety rail designed and installed around the parapet."
The project has already received £9375 from the Town Centre Regeneration Funding which was allocated for alterations to the outside gallery around the clock tower.
