Councillors speak out against designation of Salmon Point Lighthouse

Salmon Point Lighthouse

UPDATE  SEPT. 13: Councillors spoke out against designating the Salmon Point lighthouse against the property owner’s wishes during Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting. The final decision is to come forward at the next council meeting.

Councillor Steve Ferguson, a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee, said he could not support the long-standing drive for designation.

“The important thing to me is that we not make decisions to force people to do something that they may object to,” he said. “Further, in this particular instance, Mr. Seguin (of Save Our Lighthouses) has opportunity to take another approach, so I’m not in favour of the municipality designating this.”

Councillor Jamie Forrester recalled council deciding last year, when discussing the historically significant Young House on County Road 11, that it would never force a landowner, if they did not want a designation.

Councillor Roy Pennell was also not in favour.

“I think it’s totally wrong and I believe it is a big concern to all the taxpayers in the County if we start saying ‘you’ve got to do this’; ‘you’ve got to designate’ because I can tell you I’ve got all kinds of houses up our way that are that age and they would just be fighting in the streets.”

Background stories about the Salmon Point lighthouse designation:

AUG 15 – Salmon Pt lighthouse owners say cultural value ‘misleading’ and should not be designated

JUNE 2018 – County may move forward on designating Salmon Point Lighthouse

May 2018 – Call to preserve Salmon Point Lighthouse in absence of approval from owners

Other stories about County lighthouses:
Feb 2014 – Governments failing to support County heritage
May 2013 – Council’s written support necessary for bid to save County lighthouses

Aug 2011 – Call is out to save Prince Edward County lighthouses 

Sept 2011 Seguin leads bid to save beacons of hope and safe harbour