Trial lighting for landmarks

Plymouth’s much loved landmarks are coming a step closer to being permanently lit.

Charles Church and Smeaton’s Tower will be in the spotlight for one night – 11 November – as part of a trial lighting scheme.

The Council wants the landmarks to be better lit at night, but is looking at making sure this can be done in the most cost effective and eco-friendly way.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance said: "We are really keen to light our landmarks at night, we light Smeaton’s Tower on special occasions, but we want to make these monuments more prominent.

“We have spoken to a number of lighting specialists about how best to conduct a trial and if successful, this could pave the way for permanent lights on the church and the tower.” 

Other prominent monuments and architectural structures on the waterfront could also be looked at as part of the project, he added.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, one of the area’s ward councillors, helped launched the campaign as he felt the existing lighting at Charles Church did not do the monument justice.

He said: “The current lights are a bit low key and do not show this important monument to the city’s past in the best light. With the exciting development in the pipeline for Bretonside, we need to make sure Charles Church is not forgotten in the regeneration of the area.

"Since we launched this campaign local residents have contacted me with their memories of the Church. For those people, like me, who lost family in the Blitz, the Church is a symbol of remembrance.”

The trial – which is being carried out by a company called LITE, will not cost the Council anything as it aims to see if the designs and spec of the lights are effective – particularly against the backdrop of other street and building lights at Charles Church.

Once the trial has been carried out, a full business case would need to be put together and considered by the Council’s investment board.