The Department of Infrastructure is carrying out a full refurbishment of the two navigation lighthouses located on Ramsey’s North and South piers.

The ‘pepperpot’ structures have been in place for more than 120 years and the work is designed to ensure they continue to assist mariners for many decades into the future.

The scheme is scheduled to get under way next week as part of the Department’s focus on strategic maintenance of the Island’s structural assets.

A recent inspection of the 4-metre high lighthouses, which were built in the late 1800s, revealed them to be in urgent need of complete renovation.

Concern has been expressed that if this work does not take place the lighthouses may suffer a similar fate to the one that used to operate on Port St Mary breakwater, which was washed away during a violent storm in January 2009.

The refurbishment of the two Ramsey lighthouses will be undertaken by local contractors and overseen by a specialist restoration company. The ‘pepperpots’ will be dismantled and work carried out to repair and refinish the cast iron panels, which have suffered extensive corrosion and fractures.

The project is programmed for completion by the end of spring 2017 and the total cost for rebuilding both structures is estimated at ?100,000.

Tim Cowin, Head of Highway and Asset Management at the Department of Infrastructure, said: ‘Maintenance schemes such as this one in Ramsey help to ensure the long-term integrity of the Island’s structural assets. Investing time and money now means we can hopefully avoid the need for more costly interventions in the future.’

He added: ‘While scaffolding was in place earlier this year for the structural inspection the opportunity was taken to give the lighthouses a quick lick of paint, as we were unsure of the extent of the renovations required. Unfortunately it turns out they are in such poor condition they need to be taken down and rebuilt. The lighthouses are an important part of Ramsey’s marine infrastructure and this work will help to preserve them for generations to come.’

Temporary navigation lights will be in place on Ramsey’s North and South piers while the lighthouses are restored.

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