Palmeira Square Floral Clock Drop-In Sessions: 6 and 8 October 2026
Palmeira Square in Hove with a question mark over the empty space as the council asks residents what should replace the Floral Clock
Brighton and Hove City Council is holding two drop-in sessions on what should replace the Floral Clock at Palmeira Square in Hove: Tuesday 6 October from 1pm to 3pm at the Cornerstone Community Centre, and Thursday 8 October from 3pm to 5pm in the square, near the former Floral Clock. The council's online survey on three replacement options is open until 14 October 2026, six days after the second session. The Floral Clock was created in 1953 to celebrate the Queen's Coronation, and the council says that after more than 70 years it has reached the end of its life.
The council says the sessions are there to share information on proposals for a new landmark that complements the new Mediterranean planting. This article covers where and when to go, what the three options are, how the survey works and what the council has said about why the clock cannot stay as it is. Our earlier article on the consultation explains each option in detail.
Where and when the drop-in sessions are
The council's announcement lists two sessions and does not ask residents to book.
- Tuesday 6 October, 1pm to 3pm
Cornerstone Community Centre, Church Road, Hove BN3 2FL. The council gives the venue name only, and the address is from the Charity Commission register. - Thursday 8 October, 3pm to 5pm
Palmeira Square, near the former Floral Clock. The north section of the square is often known locally as Floral Clock Gardens, according to the council's Your Voice page.
Residents who cannot attend can still take part online. The survey is on the council's Your Voice platform and the project overview sets out the background.
The three options on the table
Officers have worked with councillors, residents and community groups to develop what the council calls clear and realistic options for the Floral Clock area. Residents and garden users are being asked about three:
- Option 1: a sculptural armillary sphere
A globe sundial that celebrates the site's timekeeping heritage. The anniversary date of the Queen's Coronation would be marked. - Option 2: a new sculptural feature inspired by the original clock
It would have a fixed clock face showing 19:53, marking the Coronation year, and the council would hold a public competition to design the artwork on its sides. - Option 3: a community-led future
The council would transfer responsibility for the site to a community group, which would take on the feature, fund it and shape its future as a community asset.
How to have your say, and what happens next
The survey opened on 16 September and runs for four weeks, closing on 14 October 2026, according to the council's have your say page. The council says responses will help officers understand which option is most supported by residents and people who use the gardens, and that the results will be considered alongside feedback already received and the available budget before a final decision is made. The council's timeline of work says the results will be analysed and the future of the Floral Clock set out in November 2026.
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet member for Sports, Recreation and Libraries, said:
We appreciate that replacing the Floral Clock is a sensitive issue and that's why we are taking our time and working closely with the local community to explore different options. I would encourage residents to attend the drop-in sessions, take part in the consultation and help us create a feature that will become as well-loved as the Floral Clock.
The council says views were evenly balanced in the last consultation: 40% of respondents preferred a new feature such as a modern artwork or sculptural sundial, and 41% preferred to retain a reference to the existing Floral Clock. The council also received a petition in support of keeping the clock, along with representations from residents who wanted garden repair and maintenance prioritised over restoring a working mechanism. All of this is set out on the council's page on the new feature.
Take the Palmeira Square survey
Why the Floral Clock cannot stay as it is
The council's explanation is that the mound and supporting infrastructure are beyond repair and the clock mechanism has not worked for many years, so preserving it in its current form is no longer feasible. It adds that the council can no longer support the traditional seasonal bedding displays, which need intensive resources.
The clock sits in the north section of a square that has already changed. The council completed a re-landscaping of that part of Palmeira Square in March 2026, with the council's Cityparks team working alongside the Friends of Palmeira Square and the Adelaide Residents Association, and says the Floral Clock was not included in those works. The new scheme is Mediterranean-inspired, drought-tolerant and supports pollinators, and volunteer gardeners from the Friends group worked alongside council officers and contractors on the planting.
For people who want to see the options in person and ask officers questions, the two sessions on 6 and 8 October are the chance to do it before the survey closes.
More from ImJustBrighton
→ Palmeira Square Floral Clock: Vote on Three Replacement Options by 14 October 2026
→ A259 Hove to Brighton Cycle Lane Plans: 70 New Parking Spaces and a New Two-Way Lane
→ City Plan: have your say on how Brighton & Hove grows over the next 15 years
