Decision day looms for Sutton Bridge Lighthouse owners hoping to create museum

THE owners of an historic lighthouse will find out later this month if a plan to expand their site to incorporate a museum will be given the green light.

Doug and Sue Hilton want to open up their lighthouse in Sutton Bridge to the public and are awaiting a decision by South Holland District Council on their application.

The couple bought the lighthouse, which stands at the mouth of the River Nene looking out on to the Wash, last November from Commander David Joel, who spent 25 years reviving it.

Mr Hilton said the museum would be dedicated to well-known conservationist and painter Sir Peter Scott, who lived in the lighthouse from 1933 to 1939, and the developed site will allow people to engage with wildlife.

The couple are also going to open the lighthouse to the public over the upcoming weekends this month to help start raising money to fund the building work, if approved.

Mr Hilton said: “Everyone loves to visit a lighthouse but this is so much more than just a lighthouse – it is the starting point of global conservation.

We reckon we will need about �250,000 to build the visitor centre and museum, which is a huge amount for us to raise.”

There has been one objection to the plans so far from the King’s Lynn Internal Drainage Board, which has said the proposals do not “meet its requirements”.

However, Sutton Bridge Parish Council, English Heritage and the Environment Agency have all supported the plan.

A decision is due by August 17.