Doreen given permission for 30ft replica lighthouse

Doreen Lofthouse, who made her fortune from Fleetwood throat lozenge giant Fisherman’s Friend, built a scaled-down version of the town’s Beach Lighthouse on unused farmland close to her home in Links Gate.

Because the 30ft structure went up without planning permission, Mrs Lofthouse was forced to file paperwork with Wyre Council after it was already built.

After considering one objection from Colin Charnock, a resident in nearby Balfour Close, and 13 letters of support, councillors sitting on the planning committee were told they should refuse it – which would have seen Mrs Lofthouse ordered to pull the lighthouse down – because of the structure’s impact on the green belt.

But a council spokesman yesterday confirmed the application was approved.

Mrs Lofthouse, who has pumped millions of pounds into the regeneration of Fleetwood over the years and was made an OBE for her charity and business work in 2008, had previously threatened to tie herself to the structure to stop if being flattened if refused planning permission.