Lighthouse needs help in grant bid

By Paul Clifford

Bosses at one of South Tyneside's most popular tourist sites want boroughfolk to help them land a £100,000 grant. 
Souter Lighthouse, in Whitburn, is in with a chance of winning the cash – but it needs people to vote for it.

The money has been donated to the National Trust by the people behind meaty drink Bovril, and is earmarked to spruce up an area of natural beauty in Great Britain in their Great Outdoors Revival scheme.

If they get enough votes, Souter Lighthouse chiefs are hoping to build a block of toilets outside the venue, which they hope will improve the facilities for its visitors.

Nick Dolan, property manager for the National Trust, which owns the lighthouse, said: "Lots of National Trust properties from across the nation have entered the competition.

"We're currently in 28th place, so we need people to get online and vote for us.

"We want to make the outside of the building as accessible as possible. We're also responsible for the Leas, so new toilets will benefit the whole area and will be used by local people and tourists.

"The block would have to complement the surrounding area, and be as environmentally-friendly as possible."

And Mr Dolan thinks it could be the first step on the road to exciting new developments at the site.

He added: "If we were successful, it could be the first thing we do on the road to developing further facilities for The Leas.

"It will mean we can accommodate more people and improve our services – things we have in mind are cycle hire and camping.

"But first we need to get those votes to try to get funding for the toilets, then we can start worrying about designs and what might happen after."

The project in pole position is Words-worth House and Garden in Cockermouth, Cumbria, the childhood home of poet William Wordsworth.

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