Cooke & Arkwright
News
Light Aid
11/10/07
Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales the Channel Islands and Gibraltar, has instructed Cooke & Arkwright as part of a UK wide exercise to undertake a planned maintenance & buildings survey and asset valuation of some of its south and west Wales’ lighthouses. These include lighthouses at well known landmarks such as Strumble Head near Fishguard, St Anne’s Head in Milford Haven, Caldey Island near Tenby, Mumbles in Gower and Nash Point in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The GLA is responsible for the safety of shipping and the well being of seafarers, overseeing nearly 600 Aids to Navigation from traditional aids such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons to the latest satellite navigation technology. It is also a major maritime charity which promotes activities including the welfare and training of mariners, and has a role as a Deep Sea Pilotage Authority providing expert navigators for ships trading in Northern European waters.
A spokesperson for Trinity House said, “Trinity House over its long history has provided superior levels of service to mariners. Part of this is having properties which are in good condition. This instruction forms an important part of our overall remit in the upkeep of vital Aids to Navigation which help ensure the safe passage of vessels through some of the busiest sea lanes in the world.”
This is one of the more unusual instructions undertaken in recent years, according to Michael Lawley of Cooke & Arkwright. “The work will be undertaken in about 12 weeks and will involve dealing with a range of heritage properties including the lighthouses themselves. It will also involve several boat rides for our surveyors!” said Mr Lawley.
Nash Point lighthouse, which forms part of the inspection, was Wales’ last manned lighthouse and has been celebrating its 175th anniversary throughout 2007. It is one of Trinity House’s most popular in terms of the letting of holiday cottages and is its only lighthouse licensed for the performance of wedding ceremonies.
A photograph of Strumble Head lighthouse, also part of the inspection, features in the Trinity House 2008 calendar and has been named overall winner by a panel of judges chaired by TV presenter Griff Rhys Jones.