Two hundred years after the death of Nelson, the Faro de Trafalgar is under threat from a German company wishing to convert it into holiday flats.
Specialist firm Floatel has been awarded a contract to create three luxury apartments. The agreement grants it control of the 110 ft tall lighthouse for the coming 30 years with the option for a further 10.
Such development would reduce public access to the building and land by 50% and limit opening hours.
The historic landmark, built in 1860, is in Canos de Meca, south of Cadiz. It is near the spot where Nelson’s ships defeated the combined French and Spanish fleet in 1805.
But a group of Cadiz businessmen, the British hotelier James Stuart, and local environmentalists are fighting back and have filed an official complaint with the port authority of Cadiz over “irregularities” in Floatel’s application.
They believe the lighthouse should remain in the public domain and fear the port authority is trying to save the cost of upkeep.
Insisting that the protest is not related to the rejection of his group’s own application to run the lighthouse, Mr Stuart said: “We would also take over the running and costs of the lighthouse, but at the same time keep it open for everyone to enjoy.”
His group promised to maintain the appearance of the landmark, create a free interpretation centre, restaurant and picnic area. But the application came in second.
