WISH WARD COUNCILLORS RE-IGNITE CAMPAIGN TO LIGHT UP HISTORIC HOVE BEACON – IN TIME FOR QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
- Call to install spectacular LED lighting effect in time for the Platinum Jubilee
- Conservatives secured £15,000 for Hove Beacon LED lighting in the February Budget; will call for the project to be completed in time for Platinum Jubilee national beacon lighting on Thursday 2nd June 2022
- City failed to participate in last beacon lighting event in 2016, with Mayor having to travel to a neighbouring authority to take part
Wish Ward Councillors Robert Nemeth and Garry Peltzer Dunn, working closely with local lighting designer Eleni Shiarlis, are set to put forward a motion to bring the City’s historic Beacon at Hove Lagoon back to life in time for her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
The Hove Lagoon Beacon is one of the City’s most historic features, with a plaque below it stating that in 1588 the Beacon formed part of a national network used to alert the public against the Spanish Armada.
The Conservative motion, which will be presented at the Full Council meeting on Thursday, calls for an LED lighting effect to be installed, so that the beacon can glow in unison with others across the country on the first night of a special 4-day bank holiday to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Having secured the necessary funding for the LED light in the February Budget, Conservative Councillors now want the project expedited so that it is completed in time for the national beacon lighting event for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on 2nd June 2022.
Brighton & Hove was left red-faced in 2016, when Green-Labour administrations failed to plan to participate in the lighting of over 900 beacons to mark for the Queen’s 90th Birthday. In an embarrassment for the City, the Mayor of Brighton and Hove Lynda Hyde had to travel to a neighbouring authority to participate.
Wish Ward Councillor Robert Nemeth said the LED Light would be a fantastic addition to the Hove Seafront for the Platinum Jubilee - and every night in the future.
“We have been working with local resident and Professional Lighting designer Eleni Shiarlis, who remembers seeing the Beacon lit up to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and has said that with a little imagination and some clever lighting effects we can bring this flickering seafront beacon back to life at night.
“The LED lighting effect is something that we have been working on with Eleni since 2016, when many were left perplexed and disappointed by the failure of the Labour administration failed to participate in the lighting of 900 beacons for the Queen’s 90th Birthday” Cllr Nemeth said.
“Eleni’s prototype, which we trialled in 2018, demonstrated how an intelligent lighting scheme can create a welcoming glow and warmth to the local area.
“We were delighted to secure the funding necessary for this project at the February Budget through the great work of Conservative Finance Spokesperson Joe Miller - now we need to see the commitment from the Council to get this installed before June next year. That is what this motion is about.”
“This would be a wonderful addition to the Hove seafront, bringing an historic landmark back to life with a new environmentally friendly twist.
“Brighton and Hove’s seafront is packed with heritage that has been underutilised and neglected for many years by the Labour/Greens council. Let’s bring it back to life” he said.
Wish Ward Councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn said that Civic events were important to local residents and that Brighton and Hove must not neglect participating in the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
“By failing to participate in the last beacon lighting event, the Council denied our City and its residents the opportunity of a memorable Civic occasion and this upset many organisations in the City” Cllr Garry Peltzer Dunn said.
“Many residents fondly remember the Hove Beacon Lighting event in 1988 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada - it was an event attended by the Mayor complete with cannon salutes and a marching band.
“There needs to be more focus in this City on Civic Events that encourage pride in our wonderful heritage and history and bring people together.
“It would be a wonderful occasion and an environmentally friendly one as well which would allow our City to lead to way into the future - I am sure this would be appreciated by all residents in the City.
“I hope that the Council will support our Hove Beacon motion on Thursday night” Cllr Peltzer Dunn said.
The Full text of the Conservative Notice of Motion is provided below:
Notice of Motion
Conservative Group
THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
This Council:
- Wholeheartedly backs calls to light the city’s historic beacons and equivalent structures on 2nd June 2022 in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee;
- Notes that funds are in place to take forward proposals from the Wish Ward Councillors to introduce attractive low-voltage lighting around Hove Beacon on Western Esplanade;
- Expresses its wish that the new lighting is operational in advance of the Jubilee celebrations; and
- Calls for an Officer Report to be presented to TECC Committee on 16th September to set out options for the above.
Proposed by: Cllr Nemeth Seconded by: Cllr Simson
ENDS.
