Plan to light up Porthleven Institute clock tower (From This is The West Country)

Plan to light-up Porthleven Institute clock tower

7:00am Monday 22nd October 2012 in Cornwall

Already an icon of Porthleven, the Institute’s clock tower could soon be lit up in lights.

Peter Ward, from Porthleven Lights Committee that is responsible for the port’s lights displays, including at Christmas, spoke of the idea to town councillors last Thursday.

He said: “It has been talked about by a lot of residents, or asked if it would be possible to light the clock tower. Up until recently we haven’t had the funds available. We are now in a position to be able to light it.”

Mr Ward said this would take the form of up-lighting on two faces: the north and the east sides. Lighting the other two would cause navigational problems to vessels in the bay.

Mr Ward asked whether the town council would agree to trials being carried out. He explained there were two types of light available: standard up-lighting that would probably be pale orange in colour – as the best colour for stone – and more expensive ‘washing’. This is the latest technology that gives the option of different colours for different days, or a cycle of continually changing colours.

Mr Ward said the lights committee would pay for the cost of buying the lighting and fixing it, but until it was decided which type of lighting to use he was unable to give an idea of figures or running costs.

He added: “The lights committee feel it would benefit from being out more often that just at Christmas.

“We think illuminating the clock tower would enhance the port.”

Members agreed for the lights committee to investigate the idea further, with Councillor Andy Wallis saying: “I think it’s a great selling point for Porthleven. The iconic building is the clock tower – people come to take pictures during the day. Up-lighting is done on national buildings, if it’s done sensitively.”

He added that everyone he had spoken to about the idea had described it as “lovely”. However, Councillor Elly Wilson said that she enjoyed looking at stars and that while she liked the Christmas lights over the festive period she preferred it when the port was not illuminated during the rest of the year.

“I know a lot of people love illuminations. For me it’s not just a blanket ‘It’s a great idea’. I kind of like the difference between night time and day time. There are issues with light pollution,” she added.

Members will be kept up to date by the lights committee at future meetings.