Lighthouse beam is reprieved for two years

Lighthouse beam is reprieved for two years

20 May 2015

A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to remove the iconic sweeping beam at St John’s Point lighthouse in Killough has been put on hold for two years.

The Commissioner of Irish Lights wants to replace the six ton Fresnel lamp with a modern LED light, but the proposal sparked huge community uproar Commissioners are concerned the St John’s lamp rotates in a bath of mercury and poses a health hazard to staff. However, they have confirmed they plan to look at other rotating mechanisms to allow the lamp to remain in place.

The Commissioners say while no solution has yet been found which will guarantee the level of performance and reliability required at St John’s lighthouse, they have “identified a potential bearing solution that we believe is worthy of extended testing.”

During a public meeting held in Ardglass last March, representatives of Irish Lights gave a commitment that they would investigate ways of retaining the rotating light at St John’s while still meeting its modernisation and health and safety requirements.

Since then, engineering and research teams have been working to identify a suitable solution and while the Commission has made it clear no solution has been found that would guarantee the level of performance and reliability required, a potential bearing solution has been identified that is worthy of extended testing.

Captain Robert McCabe, the Commission’s Director of Operations and Navigation, said in a letter to local politicians and those opposed to the removal of the St John’s lamp that to allow the new bearing to be tested, the proposed lighthouse upgrade has been postponed for two years to “test and prove the reliability of the proposed bearing system.”

He said when the testing has been completed, Irish Lights will reassess its plans for St John’s Point and that should the bearing system perform to the standard required, “it will be able to retain the Fresnel lens and rotating beam.” 

Captain McCabe, who addressed the public meeting last March, said he hopes his update will give further assurance of the commitment by Irish Lights to listen to local views and “do everything possible to respond in a positive manner.”

The decision to put on hold plans to remove the sweeping beam for two years has been welcomed by South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and Chris Hazzard MLA.

Miss Ritchie said she’s pleased the “reasoned views” of local people have been taken on board and that Irish Lights will see following its research that there is “unity of purpose” in retaining the beam to provide a guiding light to mariners and fishermen and retain an important part of local heritage.

She added: “Whilst thanking them for listening to the views of local residents, I would urge the Commissioner of Irish Lights to make that final step and retain the beam at St John’s Lighthouse into perpetuity.”

Mr Hazzard said the lighthouse’s sweeping beam is a “quintessential feature” of the Lecale coastline and one people do not want to see removed.

Hs added: “I want to thank Captain McCabe and Irish Lights for engaging with residents and ultimately taking on board the real resistance to their original plans. I hope over the next two years we can build on this initial relationship so we can ultimately come to an arrangement that meets the needs of the local community and the Commissioners. 

“The dedication and commitment of local activists who stood defiantly against these plans from the outset must also be recognised.”