A new watertight door is needed at the Isle of Wight’s iconic Needles Lighthouse. Trinity House — the official lighthouse authority in England — has put the plans forward as part of modernisation works for the 165-year-old lighthouse. The Needles Lighthouse has been undergoing its 20 to 25-year review to ensure it is fit for purpose for the next 20 or so years. It is proposed to fit a new stainless steel watertight door over the top of the current pair of bronze heritage doors. The existing doors are at least 70 years old, but could have been added when the lighthouse was first built in 1859. As the lighthouse is now remotely manned from Essex — and has been since 1994 — the way engineers leave the lighthouse means the doors cannot be properly secured to withstand a storm and the strong waves that come with it. Due to that, Trinity House said the doors have failed multiple times as they are beaten open by the waves, causing flooding, and are not fit for purpose. As the technicians visit the lighthouse months apart, the water ingress can go unnoticed for a long time which causing damage to the Grade II listed building. In March last year, the Isle of Wight Council refused a previous plan for a new external door as it “would harm the special character” of the building because of its flat and projecting design, highly reflective appearance and method of fixing. Responding to the planning authority’s concerns, Trinity House has proposed a flat door which would seal against the round structure of the lighthouse tower and mean it cannot be pushed open by the force of the sea. The door would be unpolished stainless steel and would be weathered throughout its life, becoming a duller grey colour, Trinity House said. A suggestion from the Isle of Wight Council was to add another internal door, behind the heritage ones, but Trinity House said that would not be a viable alternative as it means the doors would likely be damaged further and ultimately lost. You can view the plans, 23/02224/LBC, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 16th March.
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Refused by the same council that gives developers permission at the drop of a hat, would they rather see it damaged beyond repair? you really couldnt make it up.
So,the idiots at the council,refused a new door on the way it looks,do they not realise.this lighthouse is designed to save lives?
i wonder what planning would say if the lighthouse failed due to flooding,just because they didnt like a new door,would they shift the blame on to trinity house siting lack of maintenance?
dickheads.
Make no mistake, this is a guise to cover up its true purpose, a watertight metal door is the only thing that can protect the lighthouses valuable copper wiring from the influx of new smackheads on the island.
Extra D,
It is not the copper they will be after, but the whole super heavy glass lens of the light floats on a deep pool of Mercury.
This is a liquid metal and valuable.
Very heavy but with the low life we have now, they would no doubt carry it away somehow.
I am sure the Police response would be slow, as few roads left to get to such a place now.
I don’t know about smackheads, but I’m pretty sure you’ve been puffing on some strong sh*t.
Let’s hope would be thieves and vandals don’t read the Echo or any other media telling all that the doors are weak.
I am sure the buzz for the latter to destroy an ancient and useful monument would be so much greater than smashing a urinal. and likely get the culprit some girl action and cred with mates for carrying out such, Oh and a small ‘fine’ or telling off of ‘People could have been drown’ because of their action, AS IF they never knew that.
Wake up England, before it is too late.
Its already too late.
Well let’s vote Reform at the next Election.
It’s a lighthouse on a rock, what’s it got to do with IWC and planning?. Doesn’t affect anyone.Council always saying has to save money and prioritise Service’s yet this has nothing to do with them.
What about the old man who can’t remember anything it’s really hard for him he old and confused
Stupid Girl
Better send some smoke signals over to Anglian the Cowboy Builders…
Yes I used them once, Never again product great, fitters Sh1t.
“Sorry, we don’t deliver to the Ials of Wight”…
I thought the doors were replaced this time last year?
So these council fools think they know better than Trinity House. Wish they would explain where they got their expertise from
The same expertise as building the so called useless floating bridge ha ha
refused by cretins with absolutely no experience or knowledge of the power of the sea, i rather think Trinity House are far more qualified in these matters
I’ve just the very door, have links with the council and Trinity House. Wonder if my offer would be accepted
Quite frankly, who the bloody hell sees it, and those that do dont give a fig.
This damn council are a pain in the arse. Didn’t bother them to give permission for the ugly as hell houses on the way out to alum bay. So why are they interfering with a much needed upgrade to a maritime safety structure? Utter morons.