Speedo rev counter etc. dead on 96 Passat

Passal CL 1.9 TD, 1996.
The speedo,rev counter fuel, temp gauge, LCD clock and LCD mileometer
(console area) are all gone down.
I can hear faint clicking from behind the speedo and every now and then the
LCD items briefly
light up, only to die again.
1) Is it a big job getting into the console area to have a look at these.
2) As usual, any suggestions ?

Rgds
Pat