PLANS to restore a clock in Ringwood town centre are set to be given the green light.

Proposals to renovate the face and hands of the clock at Friday's Cross and electrify the mechanism were deferred by New Forest District Council's planning committee in July.

The clock’s movement dates back to 1830 and is currently hidden from view in a tenant’s bedroom cupboard.

The plans seek to repaint the clock face to its original design of black with gold numbers and get the clock functioning for the first time in around 10 years.

The application for listed building consent is back before members on Wednesday, with the planning officer filing a recommendation for granting the proposal subject to conditions.

At July's meeting, Ringwood district councillors were not allowed to have their say on the application and members asked for applicant Chris Wood to submit more information and meet with the officers.

The officer's reservations centred on work to the clock's mechanism leading to a loss of heritage and impact the integrity of a listed building.

Additional comments since July's meeting have been made by both Mr Wood's representative and the conservation officer.

Four options are outlined in the planning officer's report including installing an electric motor into the existing mechanism, restoring the existing clock mechanism, removing the mechanism and install an electric motor or

to do nothing.

Case officer Julie Parry's report to the planning committee says: "A balance needs to be struck between public benefit and harm to the character of the listed building.

"Given that a renovated working clock face would be a benefit to the town it has been conclude, despite the conservation officer's concerns, that option A which would involve electrifying the clock and moving the mechanism and the pendulum to either side of it, but retaining them within the cupboard, to allow for the new motor to be fitted, would be an acceptable compromise solution."

Mr Wood and Ringwood Town councillor Phillip Day, who have been leading the campaign to restore the clock, said they were very pleased to see that the planning officer is recommending that the application be granted.

A Go Fund Me page has seen several thousand pounds raised for the project made up of donations of various well-wishers throughout the town.