Cullercoats Beacons

[Stores]

My mam, bless her, has just sent me a letter with a cut out from the Chronicle sometime this past week. It says that there is a proposal to knock down the two baskets (beacons) that guide you into Cullercoats Harbour (at night they have two red lamps attached). Line them up and that's the safe way in. The article says they believe property developers are behind it. Now it's well documented that I'm not the greatest sailor in the world but on the very odd occasion we went out from CCoats in the dark the beacons were essential in lining up the re-entry, especially on the flood tide. Imagine attempting it with no guide, in bad weather, and being new to the area. Any info guys?

[mark]

they're pretty essential during the day in good weather at low tide as well, very suprised they wanna get rid

[T.C.]

Ain't GPS a wonderful invention !

Bugger heritage, tradition and the "little guy" who doesn't have a GPS system fitted to his boat.

If it wasn't for the fact that they'd present a "hazard" themselves, I'd imagine that both the North & South piers of the Tyne and Roker pier would have their lights "decommissioned" to save money.

Who actually owns these beacons, David ?

I remember (a few years ago) reading that with the increasing popularity and usage of GPS, Trinity House were looking to "decommission" many of their lighthouses and beacons.....they said that there was simply "no longer a need for such provision".

In recent years, we've seen St Marys lighthouse decommissioned, Souter lighthouse decommissioned, both the Hi and Lo lights on the North bank of the TYne sold privately.........looks like the beacons at Cullercoats are only the next in line to be sold off for "redevelopment".

[mark]

the Northern Lighthouse board in Scotland have closed quite a few over the last few years. they've also turned all the foghorns off.

used to be able to stand at the end of ardnamurchan and count the lighthouses from the treshnish isles, tiree, coll, barra head, berneray, south uist, muck, eigg and the about a dozen lit buoys in between, all gone now. you can now see only one other lighthouse, occasional on a good clear night 2!

and they are talking about a 'boat tax' to pay for navigation aids!

wonder what happens if the americans decide to turn the satelites off

[peter.m]

I saw the story. Apparently the house where they are situated has been sold and the owners have applied to have them taken down or something like that. It's not been decided as it's been argued that they are necessary as Stores said for safe navigation.

[Norman]

I think mark just beat me to it here but . (and this is until the european version is up and going ????) Do you realise that with the flick of one switch the american gov can "Stop the world" since we are so reliant upon GPS navigation at sea and in the air.

[Stores]

The beacons are owned by North Tyneside Council. Don't know if Beacon House is listed in any way but I would imagine, if I was the developer, that they would want to build above the house, in keeping with the rest of the street. As Mark points out the precedent has been set all over the country....one less thing for the council to worry about.
Hope I'm wrong.

[mark]

I wonder if there was still a full lifeboat service at cullercoats they'd be as keen to get rid??

they'll get rid, there' be an accident, and accidents elsewhere in the country, which is then the perfect arguement for government to say, we need to tax/control small boat owners. you need to buy a licence to use one, prove compitence by taking dozens of courses etc etc

[Charlton]

David
a lad is going to get me the info on the building proposals so all objections can be sent to the right people. Unlike other building proposals this just does not affect the immediate neighbours but agreat deal others.

[Stores]

Look forward to joining in the debate Al. We might have a part to play here.