Turn that ruddy light out! (From Echo)
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Southend pier cultural centre lights to be switched off because of roosting ruddy turnstones
7:30am Wednesday 14th September 2011 in News By Steve Hackwell
Ruddy turnstone
SOUTHEND Pier’s new £3million cultural centre could be plunged into darkness during the winter to avoid disturbing roosting birds.
Conservation experts insist any external lights, which could shed their glow on to the estuary, are switched off between November and March, to protect the river’s colony of ruddy turnstones and other birds.
The condition is the latest setback to hit the development, which was delayed for more than six months earlier this year after a group of the sea birds was discovered nesting in the pier’s metal supports.
Derek Jarvis, Tory councillor responsible for culture, conceded the restriction would make the centre less noticeable from the shore.
He said: “One of the main ideas of the lighting design was to ensure the centre could be seen from the shore.
“The reality of the situation is there are other factors which have to be considered.
“Anything which must be done from a conservation point-of-view will, of course, be done to ensure the centre can go ahead.”
Southend Council’s development control committee is due to rule on the plans for the cultural centre at its meeting tomorrow.
The plan has been recommended for approval by officers, meaning the pre-fabricated building could be constructed and winched into place by the end of March.
However, conservation body Natural England, which was automatically consulted as part of the planning process, has insisted the winter blackout is part of the conditions attached to any approval.
It wants any external bulbs, which would be used to light up the centre’s wave-shaped building, to be switched off between November 1 and March 31 every year in case the light spills out onto the estuary.
The body believes the unexpected glow could disturb wintering birds or disorientate those flying above the pier.
Activities within the centre include an artists’ studio, a cafe and exhibition area.
Andrew Meddle, the council’s head of planning, said there was still a chance the external lights could be used if architects can come up with a way to keep the glow to a minimum.
He said: “The design will need to provide lighting which is specially designed to reduce light spillage.”
Comments(18)
belfairs
says...
8:19am Wed 14 Sep 11
belfairs
says...
8:23am Wed 14 Sep 11
SARFENDMAN
says...
8:36am Wed 14 Sep 11
It'll be so bloomin' insignificant and small it'll only be visible through high powered binoculars. Let the turnstones have the pier at least they'll make better use of than the useless, clueless, Council.
belfairs
says...
8:40am Wed 14 Sep 11
SARFENDMAN wrote:and there's always an excuse from the 'we know better' council for not spending money on our 'tourist attraction' pier
“One of the main ideas of the lighting design was to ensure the centre could be seen from the shore".
It'll be so bloomin' insignificant and small it'll only be visible through high powered binoculars. Let the turnstones have the pier at least they'll make better use of than the useless, clueless, Council.
westcliff willi
says...
8:41am Wed 14 Sep 11
.
.
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i have to some how imput a square bar code for craptcha
Nebs
says...
9:33am Wed 14 Sep 11
John the resonator
says...
9:43am Wed 14 Sep 11
Nebs wrote:OK squadrons, chocks away.
What is so special about this bird? They don't seem to be endangered. Start the building and they will find somewhere else to go.
Everybody flock off to Neb's place.
Wing Cmmdr. Rudd E Turnstone DFC with Bar
John the resonator
says...
9:57am Wed 14 Sep 11
John the resonator wrote:And here's a picture of good old 'ginger' Turnstone in his finest hour.
Nebs wrote:OK squadrons, chocks away.
What is so special about this bird? They don't seem to be endangered. Start the building and they will find somewhere else to go.
Everybody flock off to Neb's place.
Wing Cmmdr. Rudd E Turnstone DFC with Bar
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geezer, innit
says...
10:15am Wed 14 Sep 11
John the resonator
says...
10:27am Wed 14 Sep 11
geezer, innit wrote:Yes, the West pier in my home town of Brighton comes to mind. No boat collisions as far as I am aware but storm damage, closure, years of circular debate in the Council, a fire under suspicious circumstances and collapse into the sea.
who just whispered to me that they only want to turn off the lights so that a ruddy great boat smashes the pier beyond repair one dark and stormy night and they can then finally do what they've been wanting to do for years and tear it down.....
Was a fine place, I used to work there at the theatre bar when I was a student. Now all we have left is money spinning Tacksville Central Palace Pier.
Mark D
says...
10:28am Wed 14 Sep 11
frank & monty
says...
1:49pm Wed 14 Sep 11
If the council wasn't so pathetic it would be laughable.
Max Impact
says...
2:16pm Wed 14 Sep 11
John the resonator wrote:Is that Blighton Brighton Eye still going ahead?
geezer, innit wrote: who just whispered to me that they only want to turn off the lights so that a ruddy great boat smashes the pier beyond repair one dark and stormy night and they can then finally do what they've been wanting to do for years and tear it down.....Yes, the West pier in my home town of Brighton comes to mind. No boat collisions as far as I am aware but storm damage, closure, years of circular debate in the Council, a fire under suspicious circumstances and collapse into the sea. Was a fine place, I used to work there at the theatre bar when I was a student. Now all we have left is money spinning Tacksville Central Palace Pier.
or is it another West Pier fiasco, at least West Pier was granted lottery money even if it was wasted on a fesability studdy that went down quicker that the pier collapsed.
John the resonator
says...
4:24pm Wed 14 Sep 11
Max Impact wrote:Looks that way, apparently all the material has been purchased and the steel has been rolled. The target is to be completed in time for the Olympics.
John the resonator wrote:Is that Blighton Brighton Eye still going ahead?
geezer, innit wrote: who just whispered to me that they only want to turn off the lights so that a ruddy great boat smashes the pier beyond repair one dark and stormy night and they can then finally do what they've been wanting to do for years and tear it down.....Yes, the West pier in my home town of Brighton comes to mind. No boat collisions as far as I am aware but storm damage, closure, years of circular debate in the Council, a fire under suspicious circumstances and collapse into the sea. Was a fine place, I used to work there at the theatre bar when I was a student. Now all we have left is money spinning Tacksville Central Palace Pier.
or is it another West Pier fiasco, at least West Pier was granted lottery money even if it was wasted on a fesability studdy that went down quicker that the pier collapsed.
Maybe you played some modest part in it's development, I quote from one of the brochures:
'the i360, a brilliant solution because it is a landmark that will achieve MAXIMUM IMPACT with minimum intervention.'
Oh and me, it goes on to say:
'It RESONATES perfectly with the city’s landscape, cultural roots and aspirations for the future.’
We could end up rich!
siddymint
says...
8:48pm Wed 14 Sep 11
Max Impact
says...
11:31pm Wed 14 Sep 11
John the resonator wrote:I'll send them my invoice...
Max Impact wrote:Looks that way, apparently all the material has been purchased and the steel has been rolled. The target is to be completed in time for the Olympics. Maybe you played some modest part in it's development, I quote from one of the brochures:John the resonator wrote:Is that Blighton Brighton Eye still going ahead? or is it another West Pier fiasco, at least West Pier was granted lottery money even if it was wasted on a fesability studdy that went down quicker that the pier collapsed.geezer, innit wrote: who just whispered to me that they only want to turn off the lights so that a ruddy great boat smashes the pier beyond repair one dark and stormy night and they can then finally do what they've been wanting to do for years and tear it down.....Yes, the West pier in my home town of Brighton comes to mind. No boat collisions as far as I am aware but storm damage, closure, years of circular debate in the Council, a fire under suspicious circumstances and collapse into the sea. Was a fine place, I used to work there at the theatre bar when I was a student. Now all we have left is money spinning Tacksville Central Palace Pier.'the i360, a brilliant solution because it is a landmark that will achieve MAXIMUM IMPACT with minimum intervention.'Oh and me, it goes on to say:'It RESONATES perfectly with the city’s landscape, cultural roots and aspirations for the future.’We could end up rich!
geezer, innit
says...
9:00am Thu 15 Sep 11
westcliff willi wrote:in English please. Make England proud...
well i m a conservation expert as well (sort of) and i counter the argument, it will have no effect, so get on with it, no more half ar5d measures. . . . i have to some how imput a square bar code for craptcha
;-)
Alice in Her Own Land :P says...
8:17am Wed 14 Sep 11