Lighthouse meeting plans left in the dark

Lighthouse meeting plans left in the dark

22 January 2020

A PLANNED meeting to provide councillors with an update on the future of St John’s Point Lighthouse near Killough last week was cancelled.

The meeting — which was due to be held in Newcastle — was requested by the Commissioner of Irish Lights (CIL) to provide an update on controversial proposals for the future of the iconic lighthouse.

CIL is planning to substitute the current mechanism which rotates a huge Fresnel lens and replace the current light with a modern LED.

The Dublin-based organisation insists that the planned changes are “minimal” and will not result in major changes to the iconic sweeping beam. 

However, it is a claim which has been firmly rejected by local people, including the Lecale Lightkeepers campaign group.

They contend that the beam’s range will be reduced by up to nine miles if the changes are allowed to proceed and that alleged concerns about the health and safety implications of a mercury bath which rotates the current lens are nothing more than a “red herring”.

CIL wants to remove the mercury from the rotating lens mechanism and replace it with a German-made alternative which it says has been trialled for the past two years.

In addition, CIL insists that the engineering works planned for St John’s Point will deliver a “better quality, environmentally superior solution which meets modern health and safety requirements”. They say they are simply removing mercury out of the rotating lens system and putting in a new “innovative mechanical bearing solution”, insisting that the changes are not being driven by any directive to make savings.

In addition, CIL argues that plans to replace the existing filament light with a modern LED will not result in major changes to the sweeping beam.

They contend that the proposed changes will deliver a “better quality, environmentally superior solution which aligns with current health and safety requirements” and allow for the retention of the historic Fresnel rotating lens which was installed in 1908.

Commissioners also insist that the range of the new LED light will be 18 miles in accordance with the Navigation Requirements for the UK and Ireland, with St John’s Point Lighthouse continuing to provide an essential safety service for mariners as it has done since a light was first established in Killough in 1844.

During a public meeting last year to discuss the proposed changes at the lighthouse, CIL was urged by concerned residents and politicians to leave the lighthouse as it is and not to do anything to harm its heritage.

There was also a warning that there would be “ructions at all levels” if the proposed changes were implemented, with several people pointing to the potential for the lighthouse to be transformed into a unique leading visitor attraction which would provide an economic boost for the area.

Residents opposed to changes argue that Killough boasts the “finest example of a lighthouse of its kind” and that no one is in any doubt about the maritime history and heritage of St John’s Point and its uniqueness.

Campaigners say that they are determined to protect the heritage of the lighthouse and suggest it is “arrogant” for CIL to suggest that its proposals represent an improvement and an upgrade. 

They described the lighthouse as “unique and authentic” and have appealed to CIL to leave the “beautiful old lighthouse is left as it is, working perfectly.”

A Newry, Mourne and Down Council spokeswoman confirmed that last week’s scheduled meeting in the Newcastle Centre was cancelled at the request of the Commissioner of Irish Lights. 

She explained that the meeting was organised to provide an update to councillors on the ongoing discussions regarding the future of St John’s Point Lighthouse.

The spokeswoman added: “In the interests of allowing sufficient notice for members of the public and any interested parties to attend if they had wished to do so, the meeting was postponed and an alternative date will be arranged in due course.”