Lighthouse refurb plan thrown out
Reporter MAJOR plans to refurbish St Mary’s Lighthouse have been turned down after concerns were raised about their effect on seals and birdlife.
North Tyneside Council was behind proposals to restore the historic landmark in Whitley Bay.
The scheme included the restoration of lighthouse facilities and other improvements such as creating glasscovered roof top viewing decks, repairing the causeway, upgrading toilets and educational facilities.
However, there were more than 400 objections and a petition against the improvements was also handed into the council.
Campaigners said the open-topped viewing platforms would lead to an increase in disturbance to the wildlife, especially seals that use the island as a haul-out site. In addition, they felt the proposed management plan to deal with any disturbance was insufficient.
On Tuesday, Sally Bennett, from St Mary’s Seal Watch, told a planning committee there was overwhelming support for restoring the lighthouse however the design of the roof-top platforms was not fit for purpose. She said it would result in regular disturbances to the seal population at the site and would have an “unacceptable ecological impact”.
She said: “What we are concerned about is that the design of the viewing platforms does not provide a good standard of amenity. They could have been designed differently so that they could meet the purpose of a wildlife viewing facility. We would relish a fitfor-purpose wildlife viewing facility.”
Sophie Gooch, from consultants Fairhurst, said a viewing deck management plan had been put together to monitor and control access to the platforms, and minimise disturbance.
The plan covered protocol for allowing visitors to use the decks, monitoring of wildlife and measures to take if there were any disturbance to animals, such as limiting the number of people using the areas. The platforms were to be closed over winter and during high tide. In addition, the decks would be shut if there were not enough volunteers to monitor them.
A number of councillors said they were concerned about the scheme.
Coun Sandra Graham told the meeting: “We are relying a great deal on the viewing deck management plan. I’m ambivalent. I do see the benefits for tourists and the rest of it but I think there’s still more work to be done.”