2 March 2012
Demolition of the former coastguard tower at Shoreham Fort commenced today. The tower has been out of use for several years and is in poor condition. The top part of the tower was removed two years ago for safety reasons and it has been the intention ever since to demolish the rest of the tower when funding could be secured. Funding has now been secured by the ‘Friends of Shoreham Fort’ from Adur District Council’s ‘Pot of Gold Fund’ and these funds have been matched by Shoreham Port. The works have approval from English Heritage and the contract to pull it down has been let to Edburton Contractors Ltd, a local firm on the Port.
The tower will have to be taken down carefully to protect the brickwork of the original ammunition magazine underneath, which is similar in design to the one on the north eastern corner of the fort. Once it has gone, the magazine area can be renovated and a useful space created for the Friends of Shoreham Fort to use as an exhibition area.
Shoreham Port and Adur District Council are also considering how the rest of the site could be improved with such measures as better signage and pathways, upgrading of the car park and toilet block and introduction of information boards about the local area (for instance on the history of the film industry on Shoreham Beach, the importance of the Port today and on the wildlife that can been seen in the local area). A more ambitious plan in the long term is to recreate the barrack block in its original position to provide new space for community use and may be a café.
Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur Council, said “This is really good news we are delighted to see such a visible use of some of last year’s Pot of Gold money. The Friends of Shoreham Fort are certainly a good example of Big Society in action. Adur council will continue to support them when it can”.
Peter Davies, Development Director at Shoreham Port commented “We are delighted to be working with the Friends of Shoreham Fort and Adur Council on continuing to improve the Fort area. Seeing the tower come down is another significant step forward”.
For more information on Shoreham Fort please visit the following websites –
