A key planning consultee has stated that it is content with proposed changes to St John’s Point Lighthouse.
Historic Buildings – within the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division (HED) – confirmed this in a consultation response submitted to the council’s Planning Department last Wednesday (20 August).
An application seeking listed building consent to carry out works at the Killough landmark was lodged by the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) last December. It states that “the proposed works are required to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the lighthouse.”
“The project includes the retention of the rotating Fresnel lens and flash character of the light, while allowing the removal of mercury and diesel generation from the lighthouse,” it continues. “The existing Fresnel lens will continue in operation by installing a mechanical rotational ball-bearing race below the lens, replacing the mercury used in the existing rotation system. The mercury will be removed from the site for responsible disposal by a specialist contractor.”
“It is intended to replace the existing light source with a low-energy LED light source – this will enable the replacement of the existing back-up diesel generator and fuel storage with a back-up battery system to be used in the event of mains electrical failure.”
In its submission, Historic Buildings states that it has “considered the impacts of the proposal on the listed building and, on the basis of the information provided, advises that we are content with the proposal, subject to conditions.”
The removal of mercury and the addition of a bearing rotation system is considered to be “broadly additive, rather than destructive (removal only of mercury and addition of a new bespoke mechanism).” “The proposal is reversible, should a future non-toxic bearing trough liquid become available,” the response reads. “The optic is fully retained and still rotates, albeit on bearings in place of the mercury float bath.”
On the removal of gas-discharge lamps and their replacement with LED lighting, the Historic Buildings submission says that “the material difference is the source of light.” “No other part of the functioning lens-light partnership is affected, and the historic optic lens are fully retained,” it adds. “A condition for the proposed retention on-site is requested, should permission be granted. The 90 per cent reduction in energy use is noted.”
On the replacement of the generator with battery cells, it is highlighted that “the Lister generator will be retained on-site.” “The battery cells are an additive change and do not cause an issue under policy for HED,” the response states.
Historic Buildings has requested that three conditions be placed on any future planning approval.
The first is for the gas-discharge lamps, fog signal equipment and diesel generator to be “carefully removed or decommissioned, retained and maintained on-site with interpretative tagging.”
The second is for the change to the rotation mechanism to be “recorded and retained for historical reference and education, to include rotation mechanism as exists, fitting of new mechanism and commissioning/operation of new rotation mechanism.”
The third is for CIL to provide a methodology on how it will address the “repair of wall linings in advance of any works to the lighthouse wall finishes.”
It is noted in the document that “the linings to the lighthouse walls were partially damp and removed in one area” and that “there is evidence of localised water ingress to be further investigated.”
In today’s issue of the Mourne Observer, read the response from the campaign group who are not pleased with this decision.
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