Time will not stand still in Hastings' city centre, with engineers confirming yesterday that cracks in the historic Hastings Clock Tower are superficial, affecting only the surface plaster.
The cracks were spotted in the 82-year-old structure this week, and engineers were called in to check that the damage to the Historic Places Trust Category 1 building was not more serious.
A Hastings District Council spokesperson said that no structural defects were identified when the building was checked for earthquake proneness last year, and it was found to meet 42 per cent of the current building standard.
Yesterday's inspection confirmed nothing more sinister was going on and a plan to refurbish the tower, including strengthening, replastering and painting would go ahead as planned.
The design for that work had been completed and tenders would be called for in the next two months.