At the council's April meeting on Monday, a petition was formally submitted with around 280 signatures asking that Council provide a full disclosure as to why the Stawell Town Hall clock chimes were changed without any community consultation and asking that the clock chimes be reverted to start at 6am and finish at 11pm.

Helena Nicholson has lived in Stawell for 48 years and said she started the petition because she was not happy with how the decision was made by council.

"This was done without consultation, but the council are always saying they want to consult with the community," she said.

"In this instance, something that has been going for 90-plus years, changes were made and no one was consulted.

READ MORE:

"I wasn't really planning on it, but then I decided, yes I would (start the petition), because it has always been part of our town.

"I had read the reports that they had received complaints from visitors, but my issue is how can we go and change things for visitors who are not going to remain here.

"There has been no consultation with the community, no word going out there that it was going to be changed and it was just done."

Ms Nicholson has lived in Stawell since 1973 and said she was proud of her town and its history.

"The thing is, the chimes are so unique to Stawell," she said.

"How many visitors come at 12pm, 3pm, 6pm and 9pm to watch the miners doing their little thing.

"Also the sound of the clock is soothing, it isn't loud or overbearing and it is very important on ANZAC Day when we play Waltzing Matilda, The Last Post and on New Years Day it plays Auld Lang Syne.

"I don't want to make enemies with the council, Stawell is fantastic and we have a lot going for us, but myself and few other people like the chimes and want them to stay at the original times."

At their April meeting the council voted four-to-three to discuss the matter further and they will make a decision at the May meeting.

OTHER NEWS:

On Wednesday, February 10 the council announced they would be reducing number of times the clock tower tower chimes from its original on the hour, every hour between 6am and 11pm each day; to on the hour, every hour between 8am to 10pm.

Signatures for the petition have closed because Council's Governance Rules specify that a petition or joint letter received by the Council must be lodged with the Chief Executive Officer at least ten days before a Council meeting.

In response to mixed public opinion, on Friday, February 19 Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Murray Emerson said people could contact the council to express their concerns about any issue in the shire.

"If residents have any feedback they would like to raise with council about the bells or any other issue, councillors are here to listen to the community and represent them as best we can. Just reach out to us and have a chat," he said.

"There is also a contact form on our website, and council can be contacted over the phone, by email, and on social media. We also use the Snap, Send, Solve app for any urgent items. There is no shortage of ways people can provide feedback to us so we can make the Northern Grampians the best it can be."

If you can see this message, you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Stawell Times-News, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and for allowing us to continue telling Stawell's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great town.