City landmark set for new lights after 11 years

A landmark lighthouse in Plymouth is to get a new set of lights, as part of a planned multi-million-pound programme of works.

Plymouth City Council said Smeaton's Tower on the Hoe, which was built in 1759, had its most recent lighting system installed in 2015.

The authority said its exposed location meant that the existing lighting had "reached the end of its life" and £7 million had been allocated to tackle a backlog of maintenance and repairs on its buildings and assets, including the towers lights.

Councillor Chris Penberthy said the tower was a "symbol" of the city and lighting it was "very important to Plymouth and its residents".

The council said the system being replaced illuminated the whole tower each night and had been used on "countless occasions to acknowledge significant dates and events" in the city.

It said the old system was "obsolete" and "parts are hard to come by", but the new lights were being ordered and could be activated within the next two months.

Penberthy said "lighting helps makes people feel safer, so it makes sense to prioritise a new lighting system on the Hoe".

The funding would cover three years and would give it an opportunity to address some long issues on properties, the council added.

Other works also earmarked with the funding included the second phase of planned structural works at West Hoe Pier, repairs to the car park surface at Plympton Pool car park and a roof replacement at Central Library.

Penberthy said it had "been a challenge prioritising work, but these projects are important to the people who use them and work in them".

"Taking a longer-term approach will help the team better plan activities and allow them to enter into longer-term contracts to reduce costs."

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.