Is It Lights Out For Beachy Head?

Trinity House, which in charge of navigational aids around the UK coastline, may switch it off, since 1670 a light has been warning ships of the danger of wrecking at the base of the 500 foot tall cliff, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, but as ships now have sat nav the light is deemed to be no longer needed, the much-loved lighthouse was manned by just three keepers in the 75 years before it was fully automated in 1983, the light, which currently has a range of 20 nautical miles, has been powered by electricity since 1920, my parents living near Eastborne often used to take tea and sandwiches to this famous or should I say infamous beauty spot as the views from that hight out to sea are outstanding, I say infamous because it is a magnet for those poor souls who feel they have to end it all, some 20 people a year decide to end their lives there, but Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson called for the lighthouse to be saved, He said: 'Of course it's an iconic landmark and people have strong feelings for it, while I naturally appreciate that merchant shipping now relies on satellite navigation, this is not always foolproof, thousands of recreational sailors still rely on the light at Beachy Head, I believe switching off the light would be a risky move, and I hope local sea-goers will express their concerns as part of the consultation,' well seeing the results of some people relying on sat nav in their cars and lorries he may have a point!