The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust
Press Statement
28^th May 2008

In April 2008 the Belle Toute Lighthouse was bought by someone else.

This was obviously disappointing as the trust had put so much hard work and effort into trying to obtain the lighthouse.

The new owner has been in touch and announced their intention, which I am pleased to report, involves opening the lighthouse to the public as a visitor attraction and bed & breakfast.

This is obviously the same intention that the trust had for the lighthouse and we are very pleased as this means that the public will still have the opportunity of visiting this amazing building after all.

As the trust can no longer realise its aims it will be wound up, however, The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Society will be formed to allow previous trust members to retain a watchful interest in the future of Belle Toute.

We wish the new owners every success in their venture.

The trust once again extends its thanks to everyone who helped us get as far as we did.  The website is currently being updated to reflect this gratitude, who helped us, what we did, how we did it and what the future holds for Belle Toute.

Rob Wassell
Chairman
The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust

Wednesday 12th March 2008

In light of the announcement of sale the trust has issued this following press release:

The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust
Press Statement

Today we were advised that the recent sale of the Belle Toute Lighthouse has gone through and contracts have been exchanged.

This is a great disappointment as we had invested so much time and effort in trying to make this dream a reality, for the future of this historic building and for the public's ability to visit and stay in such an amazing place.

The trust has continued to campaign and rally support although at the end of the day it wasn't enough and we were again 'pipped at the post' by a private buyer with a cash offer.

"I would personally like to thank everyone who has supported us on this exciting adventure.  Its been great fun and I have met some wonderful people and made some good friends.  I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

The trust intends to wind-up the company and its operation although it will keep the website updated in respect for this magnificent building and as an information resource relating to its history.  Expect a number of updates in due course, including some rare photos which we were intending to show at the lighthouse.

And.. who knows, should the lighthouse come up for sale again in the future, perhaps we may be in a position to re-form and realise our ambition for this historic landmark.

Thank you to everybody for your support.

Rob Wassell
Chairman
The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust

Friday 7th March 2008

Once again there is disappointing news as we have recently been informed that someone has made an offer on the lighthouse which has been accepted and no further offers can be made whilst the sale goes through.

This is unfortunate timing as we were recently approached by a number of people with regards to potential joint-venture ownership.  We will have to wait and see what happens.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed your support for what we are trying to do. 

Please note that we cannot accept any bookings until our ownership of the lighthouse is guaranteed.  Currently Belle Toute is a private residence and it is our belief that should the sale go through it will remain as so.

Thursday 10th January 2008

Over the last few days Rob Wassell from the trust has been busy giving interviews to radio and TV.  Due to the ongoing success of our current publicity all we need is a handful of donators to agree to match £150,00 and the trust will be able to successfully acquire the lighthouse.

"This represents a truly exciting opportunity and is the closest chance yet that the trust has to acquire the lighthouse." Said Rob Wassell of the Trust.

Click here to see the ITV Meridian news report


Tuesday 8th January 2008

The lighthouse is up for sale again, for the dramatically reduced price of £595,000.  The Trust has issued the following press statement as a result of this news.

The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust
Press Statement

It has come to the Trust’s attention that the Belle Toute Lighthouse has come up for sale once again at the dramatically reduced price of £595,000.

The Trustee’s invested a great deal of time, effort and money into this venture in 2007 only to be ‘pipped at the post’ a few days before going live to the nation on the BBC’s The One Show by someone who had the money and could pay for the lighthouse outright.

The public seemed to be behind us one hundred percent although whilst they may have supported our aims we actually received very little money by way of donation. It is due to this that we fear we may repeat our effort only to be once again overtaken at the last hurdle.

I wish to thank everyone who helped us with their support and money as it enabled us to make some excellent progress; obtaining planning permission for the bed & breakfast under heavy opposition was a major landmark for example. In the end it wasn’t quite enough although it did represent the best possible intentions for opening up the lighthouse to the public and caring for its preservation for the future.

The trust has been approached a number of times over the last few months enquiring on the lighthouse being run as a profit-making venture and whilst the trustees are currently considering ‘winding things up’ we do make one last request.

The Belle Toute Lighthouse is a unique and fascinating building which has commanded attention the world over, we firmly believe that it could be a successful tourist attraction and that it would generate profit. Whilst some of this profit would need to be re-invested back into the lighthouse to maintain and preserve it, this represents the two key aims of the Trust. 1) To preserve and protect a unique and important part of our history and 2) to open it to the public as an attraction and bed & breakfast for which permission has been granted.

We would welcome approach by any business, organisation or person that would be willing to invest in our future heritage and whether it is run as a charity or a profit-making business as long as the aims are met then the objective is accomplished.

Please submit any serious enquiry to venture@belletoute.org.uk

Thank you for your support.

Regards,
Rob Wassell
Chairman
The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust

Friday 12th October 2007

It has recently come to our attention that yet another offer has been placed for Belle Toute.  Apparently this is 'significantly' larger than the previous offer and a new contract has been issued.  As far as we are aware the sale continues to move forward. 

Due to this, it is increasingly unlikely that we will now get the chance to purchase the lighthouse although we live in hope and our driving force is that hope that it will be ours, and more importantly 'the publics' in the not too distant future.


Friday 7th September 2007

This has been by far the most exciting and eventful week in the trusts history in terms of having the planning permission approved, media attention on the radio, papers, TV etc, although it ends on a sour note. 

It has come to our attention that an offer has been placed on the Belle Toute Lighthouse by someone else.  There is currently a 'lockout' period which began on Monday that lasts for three weeks whilst solicitors handle the paperwork.  We do not know who it is, how much their offer is or what their intentions are for the historic Belle Toute.

The trust remains positive and whilst we will not actively fund-raise during this lockout period we will wait with baited breath for whether this offer is genuine and whether the sale will go ahead.

At this point we would like to reassure our supporters that should the sale fall-through then we will be more proactive than ever in making the dream for the public come true.  Should the sale go ahead, then we will continue to exist to provide information about the lighthouse and its history, the geology of the area, photographs and continue to campaign and fund raise until such a time that the lighthouse comes up for sale again. 


Thursday 6th September 2007

Today was a very busy day with a number of different conversations with the press and media regarding the latest story of our planning triumph and another radio interview on Southern Counties Sussex with Richard Lindfield.

In the evening Rob Wassell attended the East Dean Parish Council meeting where he was given the opportunity to speak to the councillors and announce the trust's plans.


Tuesday 4th September 2007

The trust is elated at the planning committee's decision to allow the opening of the lighthouse to the public and bed & breakfast guests.  It is on the condition that we do not allow vehicles until such a time as the access road has been relocated, although as this was high on the to-do-list, this will not be a problem.

The councillors were deliberating for quite some time until Rob Wassell asked for the permission to speak.  This request was kindly granted and Rob was able to allay any fears and answer any questions the councillors had which resulted in the considerate decision being made.

Rob Wassell said "This is a monumental moment for us as there would be little point acquiring a building to open to the public if you couldn't open it to the public.  The only hurdle remaining now is to raise enough money to buy the lighthouse and I call on the generosity of everyone to please give something.  This is a unique opportunity for the public's generosity to benefit themselves and everyone I have spoken to said they would love to visit the lighthouse!  Please, please, please donate!".


Saturday 1st September 2007

Rob Wassell was at Beachy Head, Birling Gap and East Dean today mingling with visitors, locals and businesses.  Thank you for the overwhelming support. It is through this support and generosity that this venture really stands a chance.

Also today, we now have nationwide coverage with an impressive spread in the Independent newspaper.  If you didn't see the article itself you can view a copy of this on our press page.

 

Art for sale

The society is proud to exclusively present original works of art by the artist Colin Rayne.  We have some beautiful paintings to offer for sale with all profits going towards the trusts cause. Click here

Fascinating fact

Pharology (named after Pharos, the famed lighthouse of Alexandria) is the study of lighthouses and signal lights. Those who study lighthouses are known as pharologists