'Such a shame' - South Tyneside Council to remove Whitburn Windmill sails
“It’s such a shame that such a landmark building will lose its identity by having its sails removed.”
Council chiefs are to knock more wind from the sails of a run-down historic South Tyneside monument – by spending £20,000 to remove its key features.
They plan to splash the cash in taking down four broken sails from Whitburn Windmill, while seeking the best option over possible repairs.
It is believed at least another £40,000 will be needed to make new ones and get them fitted to the 18th Century landmark.
Even then, they will still not turn no matter how blowy it gets, according to the community body the Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum.
The forum, which is offering to apply for National Lottery Heritage Fund cash to support a possible repair project, says any new sails would be fixed in place and purely cosmetic.
Vice-chair Steve Lavelle said the scheme to remove the weather damaged sails from the Grade II listed council-owned structure was set to start on Monday, October 5.
The windmill, which dates to 1790 and has not been in use since the 1890s, has had the eyesore of metal safety barriers around its base for about a year.
Cllr Susan Sybenga, South Tyneside Council’s lead member for finance and resources, said: “Specialist contractors are scheduled to begin removing the sails from Whitburn Windmill next month, and work is expected to take around a week.
“In advance of the work, we will write to nearby residents to explain what will be happening and any temporary disruption that may be involved. The immediate priority is to make the structure safe.
“Once the sails have been removed, we will work with specialist contractors to determine the most appropriate future steps.
“We will also explore all funding options once tender prices have been received.
“Whitburn Windmill is a valued local landmark and we recognise its importance to the community.”
Mr Lavelle said the forum was working in consultation with the council around applying for Lottery funding.
He said a similar repair project at Sunderland's Fulwell Windmill had rejuvenated it and made it a valuable local attraction.
The campaigner added: “It’s such a shame that such a landmark building will lose its identity by having its sails removed.
“There is a prospect of it being returned to its former glory. Having wooden sails without moving parts will lower the costs.
“The Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum has the correct formal structures in place to tick all the boxes to apply for Lottery funding.
“We will speak to the people at the Fulwell Windmill to find out what their blueprint was and what the hurdles were.
“It is all fluid at the moment, but I’m pleased that the council is supporting this. I’m quite optimistic about the Lottery funding.
“The council is going to put the repairs out to tender and then the forum will know how much it has to apply for.”