Call for lighthouse on St Kilda

A councillor has called for the construction of a lighthouse on the island archipelago of St Kilda.

North Uist councillor Archie Campbell said the Northern Lighthouse Board had considered the idea, but that there were objections from conservationists.

St Kilda is owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).

Mr Campbell said that with the recent reinstatement of lights on the Monach Islands, west of North Uist, the next step was for one on St Kilda.

Pollution risk

The remote group of islands is deemed an important breeding area for seabirds.

Last month, NTS said the wreck of a trawler that ran aground on the World Heritage Site would remain there until 2009.

A total of 14 Spanish crew members were winched to safety from the Spinningdale when it was driven onto rocks on the main island of Hirta in February in bad weather.

Oil and other pieces of equipment were removed to reduce the pollution risk.

But some fishing nets and long lines remain onboard because they were too difficult to recover.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
St Kilda (National Trust for Scotland)
Northern Lighthouse Board
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
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