AN UPDATE has been requested on the council's progress to fit a seafront beacon with LED lighting ahead of a ceremony to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee next summer.
The Hove beacon was erected in 1988 as a replica of the original from 400 years earlier which was used to alert people against the invading Spanish Armada in the 16th century.
Some £15,000 funding was secured by Brighton and Hove city councillor Joe Miller with the hope that the beacon can be lit in time to be part of a national beacon lighting ceremony to celebrate 70 years of the Queen's service on Thursday, June 2, next year.
The idea was put forward originally by Wish Ward councillors Robert Nemeth and Garry Peltzer Dunn, who suggested lighting it with fire as a yearly event, as other beacons are on special occasions.
But Eleni Shiarlis, a lighting designer from Hove, suggested a more environmentally friendly idea by using LED lighting.
Cllr Nemeth said: “It shouldn’t just be lit just about one night every couple of years, so we embraced Eleni’s suggestion.”
The money allocated will include design, installation of the lights, connection to the power grid including digging a trench and maintenance.
Cllr Nemeth added: “After several years of work on this project, it means so much to know it’s in safe hands with a highly respected lighting designer working to tight deadline in what should be a good evening for the local community.
“Eleni is exactly the right person to be designing a lighting scheme for the Hove beacon. Lighting imaginatively will make the area safer and highlight an important local landmark that is nowhere near as prominent as it should be.”
The beacon, near Hove Lagoon, was put up on July 19, 1988, by the then mayor, Councillor Jim Buttimer, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the beacon’s use in 1588.
Cllr Miller has asked for an update on several projects ahead of next week's full council meeting, including the Hove beacon lights which were agreed within budget measures in February.
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