A war monument clock that has chimed for 80 years in Galashiels, Scotland, has been silenced after a single resident filed a noise complaint, officials said.

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The monument, a tribute to local men who died in World War I, chimed to mark every hour since 1928 until the Scottish Borders Council ordered it silenced following a complaint about the noise, The Daily Record (Glasgow) reported Friday.

"For the flow of history to be interrupted on the basis of a single complaint frankly seems ridiculous," said David Babington, the chairman of the local British Legion.

Ann Tozer, who operates a bed and breakfast near the memorial, said the chimes were keeping her guests awake at night.

Babington said it was a "disgrace" that the British Legion, which has joint custody of the memorial with the council, was not consulted before the decision.

"I'm sure if there was a referendum, 99 percent of Gala folk would want them to keep ringing. They make a pleasant and reassuring sound," he said.