A distinctive clock which hangs on the Eastgate Centre is set for a new home.
The timepiece could be moved to a new spot in Falcon Square – or to another part of Inverness city centre when the highly anticipated revamp of the centre gets underway.
The clock was a gift to the city by local Rotary Clubs who decided to commission it for the facade of the shopping centre to mark the centenary of the founding of Rotary International.
It was first revealed on the wall of the shopping centre in 2007 by the Duke of Westminster and was designed by Aberdeen sculptor and designer Syd Burnett.
Cumbria Clocks, the company behind public clocks on famous buildings including Hampton Court and Salisbury Cathedral, was chosen to build it, using metal figures and modern lighting effects at a cost of £10,000, all raised by the local clubs.
The clock’s new home will be suggested by the planning team behind the Eastgate expansion and will be decided on by a six-strong committee of councillors.
The committee will include the four Inverness Central ward members, south planning chairman Councillor Jimmy Gray and planning and infrastructure committee chairman Councillor Thomas Prag.
Mr Prag was president of Inverness Rotary Club when the clock was commisioned and said he’s keen for current rotary members to have a say on the clock’s new home.
He said: “The idea was to put in a public clock as a way of marking the centenary of Rotary and all three of the club’s raised money towards it.
“It was designed very much for that particular space which is a very public space.
“There aren’t actually that many public clocks in Inverness so that was part of why it decided to donate a clock.
“It’s important that the rotary clubs have their say on what happens with the clock in future.”
The clock currently hangs on the wall which will extended out to accommodate the new eight-screen cinema and restaurants which have been give planning permission earlier this week.
The wall will be finished with a metallic surface rather than the existing sandstone finish>
Graphics revealed to the council committee for the clock’s new home showed the clock on the end wall of the Filling Station restaurant and on the Eastgate bridge linking the tow halves of the shopping centre.
Jackie Cuddy, Eastgate Centre manager, said: “We spoke to the rotary club at an early stage before we applied for planning permission and they are quite happy with us moving the clock.
“It is most likely to remain in Falcon Square and we have a number of options to choose before making a preferred option.”