Storm damage upsets lighthouse group

Members of the West Point Lighthouse Area Development Corporation are upset over damage to the iconic building.

A tidal surge near the lighthouse swept away the dunes that sheltered the building from the ocean.

"I hope we're going to come up with some sort of an idea to put something there to protect the lighthouse some," said Bruce Smallman, chairman of the group. "Otherwise we're probably going to be prone to flooding whenever there's a tide surge like that."

The lighthouse, built in 1875, is the tallest one on the island, standing at 20.6 metres.

"As far as the rest of the damages, it's water damage in the basement and the offices and I mean that'll have to be cleaned up and so on but hopefully we can address it in such a way that we don't end up with any mildew or mould problems," said Smallman.

The lighthouse is important to tourism in the area. In summer months it is open as a hotel, restaurant and museum.