Nature group backs bid to save lookout

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) says the tower is no longer needed and has made a planning application to knock down its upper two storeys, including the observation deck.

The town's team of 11 Coastguard volunteers disagree and say it is vital to prevent loss of life at sea and along the Seahaven shoreline.

Now Newhaven conservationists from the Castle Hill Group have written to the MCA and Lewes District Council calling for it to be saved.

They say the tower should be used as a countryside centre for the Castle Hill nature reserve with access for the Coastguard during times of emergency.

The group's chairman, Graham Amy, said: 'Thousands of pounds will be spent demolishing the tower. A fraction of this could be given for future maintenance and the tower handed over to the people of Newhaven as a shared asset.

'We could use it for bird watching and educational purposes and the Coastguard could continue to use it to keep a watchful eye on our increasingly busy shoreline.'

In the coming weeks a 45,000 improvement scheme will start at Castle Hill, an area rich with plant and wildlife near Newhaven Fort, including new seating and the resurfacing of the road to the lookout to allow disabled access to the cliff top.

Mr Amy was worried these plans could be threatened by the demolition of the tower. He said: 'We are very concerned that the heavy lorries and machinery needed for demolition will wreck the new road.

'The sensible option is for all parties to sit down and look at the options. I am sure we can reach an agreement with the MCA which will satisfy all parties.'

The MCA says the tower had been mainly used to house radio and communications equipment since 1978, when it was last permanently manned. It maintains rescue vehicles allow Coastguards to drive to most vantage points for coastline checks.