IT'S that clock again ... the crowning glory of Cinderford's new market building is never far from controversy, and now attempts to rectify criticisms are still in the limelight.

Cinderford Town Council has decided to change the current face, which at best has been called 'unreadable', 'a darts board' or even 'something for target practice'.

However its chosen new design has hit a snag at the district planning stage, with the Forest District Council planning committee recommending refusal and suggesting its own choice ... with a £500 'sweetener'.

The town council has already ordered a clock face with outlined Roman numerals from a specialist Midlands company.

But Forest of Dean Council's director of planning Jim Stewart says in a report going before the planning committee this Thursday: "The problem centres on how the design of the clock face relates to the overall design of the building.

"Clearly the modern design approach to the building requires a modern style of clock face, but the one that has been ordered is very traditional.

"The architects have suggested Style E (a design with straight hands, standard numerals 3, 6, 9 and 12 picked out) or, as second choice, Style G with the hands of Style E (plain numbers all round, straight hands)."

And the recommendation before the planners states: "It is recommended that the committee refuses the request from Cinderford Town Council for the installation of a traditional clock face and suggests a more modern style appropriate to the building.

"A contribution of up to £500 (will) be offered towards the additional costs involved, to be funded from the remaining contract funds."

Cinderford town clerk Lynda Thomas said she had put the matter before her council and they would not feel their aesthetic senses had been snubbed if the district planners favoured another design.

"It would have been nice to put the alternative design before the town council for approval, but at the end of the day we just want a clock face everyone can read," she said.

The change would not incur any extra expense for the town council, she added.