Shoreham's National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) hopes the red brick watch tower at Forthaven near the old fort will be refurbished by June.

The original watchtower on the western arm is to demolished because it is derelict but the Shoreham NCI have been working for the last 16 months to secure funding to restore the smaller tower.

The NCI is a voluntary organisation set up in 1994 to restore a visual watch along UK shores after many small coastguard stations closed due to government cutbacks.

In 1994 when two fishermen lost their lives off the Cornish coast below a recently closed coastguard lookout, local people decided to open and restore the visual watch. When the first station was opened at Bass Point on the Lizard, NCI was born.

During the next 10 years other stations followed and Shoreham's will be come the 38th operational station keeping visual watch around the coastline of England and Wales.

NCI press officer Barrie Turner said: "This tower was used as a search light tower in the war and last used in 1957 as a film set for The Battle of the V1 set in World War Two.

"The plan is that once it has been restored, we will need to equip it out inside so we can have a trained team of volunteers keeping watch along the coastline. We work closely with the coastguard and lifeboat crews

"High technology and sophisticated systems such as radar and telecommunications have vastly improved safety at sea, but there is no substitute for a watchful pair of eyes.

"Accidents do happen and a computer or technology cannot spot a distress flare, an overturned boat, a yacht with problems, a water sports enthusiast in difficulty, or children or adults in trouble, or possible pollution incidents.

"That is why our lookouts and watchkeepers are an important service provider to all those who use our coastal waters, footpaths and coastline"

Shoreham currently has four NCI volunteers but is looking to recruit more.

National NCI trustee and Shoreham treasurer Brian Baker said: "We have raised £50,000 through public donations and have received a lot of support from Shoreham Port Authority. We need more funding to kit out the tower inside."

Anyone interesting in finding out more or volunteering, can attend Shoreham's NCI public meeting at the Sussex Yacht Club, Brighton Road, Shoreham on May 27 at 7pm.

-------------------------------------
Click here to go back to Shoreham news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: letters@shorehamherald.co.uk