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Interview with Rob Wassell, 10th September 2007
Why Belle Toute?
"That's one of the questions I always get asked.
Well.... I grew up in Peacehaven which is just along the
coast and as a family we used to come over to Beachy
Head often. When I passed my driving test, my new-found
freedom allowed me to visit the area whenever I wanted.
This year I have been spending a lot of time over that
way an in April I remember walking up from Birling Gap
and seeing Belle Toute over the crest of the hill and
thinking 'wow' you still look so amazing. It was only
when I returned home and I told my Dad that I had been
up at the lighthouse that he mentioned it was for sale."
Was this an immediate idea?
"Almost yes. I had wished that I could have visited the
lighthouse previously and I know other people have too,
I then started to consider how I could turn what some
people thought was 'crazy idea' into a reality. I looked
into a business loan which would have required a
£289,000 deposit and repayments of over £5000 a month
which was just unrealistic to consider. The only way I
could see this working was as a charity with public
funding and commercial sponsorship."
Could it work as a business?
"Well, the important thing to realise is that a charity
IS a business, it has to make money in order for it to
carry out its aims and meet its responsibilities.
Selling rooms and serving tea and coffee is one thing
although public donation is necessary for us to cover
the massive costs."
What kind of costs are you referring to?
"Well, the initial asking price is £850,000, on top of
that we need to have a new access road that needs to be
built at a cost of around £100,000, then we need to
carry out the necessary health and safety work to make
the building safe for visitors and other essential works
which is around £50,000. Ongoing we estimate that a
further £1.1 million is required for the maintenance and
renovation work required to the lighthouse."
That's an awful lot of money, do you think that's why
it hasn't sold yet?
"Possibly yes. As a business it isn't for anyone who
thinks they are going to get 'rich quick' as so much
will need to be spent making the building safe and
habitable. If you consider costs of around £1 million
just to obtain the lighthouse and open it up to people
serving bed and breakfast in three rooms per night with
maximum residence it would take over 10 years to
turnover that kind of money, and that isn't taking into
consideration the costs of running and maintaining the
lighthouse."
But what about a family home?
"As a family home it is quite isolated with only sheep
for neighbours and with so much money needed to be spent
it is quite a money-pit and only the seriously rich
would be able to afford such a diminishing luxury?"
What do you mean by diminishing?
"Well the lighthouse is a diminishing investment as it
is losing its land at a certain rate per year."
And what is that rate?
"We are currently working with Brighton University to
bring you some accurate figures although based on one of
their previous reports it could be as much as .6m per
year."
Wow, so with that much cliff lost each year when do
you think it will need moving again?
"This is the other question I get asked! You have to
remember that these figures are based on an average over
time so there could be larger falls or smaller falls,
there is no exact science. However, we estimate based on
average that the current 60ft of cliff will be gone in
30 years, possibly sooner.
In fact the lighthouse will need moving prior to that as
we would need to ensure sufficient access to the front
of the lighthouse, so it might need moving again in
around 24 years. Put it this way, it is only 2007 and we
have already talked to
Abbey Pynford about moving it again in the future."
What about the offer that has been put in by someone
else?
"Well, it had to happen at some point although the
timing is a real shame as we were about to do a piece
for prime time television this week which would have
been our real break. However, its early days and whilst
the paperwork goes through, at this stage they might not
have been as thorough as us in terms of structural
surveys, works estimates and erosion analysis."
What if the trust doesn't get the lighthouse?
"Even if the trust is not successful in obtaining Belle
Toute we will continue to exist to respect the history
of the lighthouse and the beauty of that area. We will
work closely with Brighton University to educate people
on coastal erosion and the effects of global warming. We
will work with the National Trust and other
organisations to report on wildlife, plants and the
environment. We will continue to provide more
information about the history of the lighthouse with
pictures and other data.
The most important thing is however that we will
continue to raise money so that when Belle Toute comes
up for sale again we can buy it and move it when
required in the future to ensure that is is protected
and preserved for future generations."
One last question, what does Belle Toute mean?
"I have seen a number of different references to the
potential origin of the name which suggest it is perhaps
Saxon in origin etc. However, whilst the lighthouse
carries the name of 'Belle Toute' my understanding is
that it is the area that holds the name and the
lighthouse merely took the name of where it was built. I
believe the name is French in origin and it means Belle
= Beautiful and Toute = All, hence 'All Beautiful',
which would be very fitting for such a magnificent and
picturesque location."
I think what you're doing is a great idea and the
best of luck
"Thank you." |
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