THE condition of the clock tower in Tillicoultry has continued to deteriorate – raising concerns about its future.

The category B listed building has been added to The Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland, after an external examination in February revealed it had declined.

This has prompted the Tillicoultry Clock Tower Campaign (Tic Toc) – athe community group which has been working to restore it – to speak out about the urgency of repairs.

A spokesperson said: “The clock tower in Ochil Street Tillicoultry has been in a neglected state of repair for a number of years due to the lack of maintenance by the owners Clackmannanshire Council. The clock tower has now been added to The Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.

“The Buildings at Risk Register is a Scotland wide register supported by Historic Scotland to highlight buildings which are at high risk of being lost.

“The clock tower is in real danger, with water ingress via the roof, decaying and structural unsafe masonry, timber decay to the internal structural timber and staircases.

“Unless repair work starts in the next 12-24 months the building may need to be demolished and one of the most iconic buildings in not just Tillicoultry, but the county, will be lost.” Tic Toc has been looking at funding options for the restoration of the tower of the former Popular Institute, on Ochil Street, for the past three years.

Volunteers, who are passionate about the tower’s history and its place within the town, have gathered historical facts and figures as part of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

But the group feels a lack of support from the local authority is holding the application back.

It has said it needs the council to help fund a small number of the project management costs, or to offer it in kind, for it to progress.

A spokesperson added: “Local group Tic Toc had been working hard to save the clock tower with Clackmannanshire Council and also the local community. The local community, organisations and business have been really supportive with a strong feeling that the clock should be saved.

“Clackmannanshire Council has been supportive to a point, but do not see the clock tower as a priority for funding or in kind support to allow Tic Toc to take forward a funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

“Initial discussions with HLF have been positive and we do hope to submit a final funding application to HLF in the next few months.

“If we could ask your readers to speak to their local councillors Bobby McGill, Archie Drummond, Donald Balsillie and Walter McAdam to ask them to make the clock tower a priority or it will be lost for the town.” A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire Council said: “The council continues to monitor the condition of clock tower building, which is not an operational building, to ensure the safety of the public is not compromised. Council staff have been working with Tic Toc for some time providing technical advice, support to the group and information for their potential application for Heritage Lottery funding.

“Council support has included detailed and complex technical survey work, which has had to be sourced from outside specialist contractors. These results were passed to the group and then processed by council officers.

“No fees have been charged for any of this work by the council. Tic Toc is welcome to contact the council to discuss their ongoing campaign.”