FOI request (FOIR-759682843)

Public Clocks on Council-Owned Buildings

Requested Fri 24 October 2025
Responded Wed 05 November 2025

I run a charitable project documenting stopped public clocks across the United Kingdom. I am also writing a book examining civic infrastructure maintenance and heritage preservation in Britain:

https://stoppedclocks.org

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

1. How many buildings currently owned or maintained by the council have publicly visible external clocks?

2. For each such building, please detail:

a. The building name and address.

b. Whether the clock(s) is currently functioning.

c. Whether there is an allocated maintenance budget for the clock(s).

d. If not functioning, when the clock was last operational (if known).

3. Any recent (past 5 years) correspondence, reports, or assessments regarding the maintenance, repair, or removal of public clocks on council-owned or maintained buildings.

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Response

There are 4 publicly visible external clocks on council owned buildings and are maintained by the council:

1. St Mary in the Castle, Pelham Crescent, Hastings.

2. The Falaise Fitness Centre, White Rock Gardens, Hastings.

3. The Old Town Museum, Old Town Hall, 68 High Street, Hastings.

4. Alexandra Park Bowls Pavilion, Alexandra Park, Hastings.

There are two further publicly visible external clocks but which are not on buildings also maintained by the council:

1. Southern Water Vent Tower, Falaise Road, Hastings.

2. London Road Bastion, Upper Promenade, Grand Parade, Hastings.

The clock maintenance budget was temporarily deleted for Y2024/25 as a cost saving measure but has since been reinstated.

The 2025/26 budget for annual servicing the clocks listed above is £3,600.

The firms carrying out the servicing advise the council if any of the clocks are not operating correctly or otherwise need repair.