Government’s decision to spend $500,000 improving Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in the current economy has come under criticism.Former hotelier Toppy Cowen, who flagged up the deteriorating state of the tourist attraction on his Facebook page months ago, said he was “delighted” that improvements would be made but questioned the size of the funding.“With this in mind, we wonder if it is necessary to do everything at one time,” he said. “In other words, a smaller contractor to do upgrades to the cottage and bathrooms could be made at a later date.”Estates Minister Michael Scott announced this week that $500,000 had been earmarked for renovating the Southampton site. Existing washroom facilities are to be modernised and expanded as part of the improvements and washrooms accessible to the physically challenged added, he said.The main cottage and ancillary storage buildings will also be renovated and a new 48in high guardrail installed on the observation deck.“Perhaps they did not receive the much-needed attention before things got out of hand. We are quite sure this amount was not included in the Government Budget and so another after-the-fact approval will be made in due course,” he said.“Gibbs Hill Lighthouse has undoubtedly been left untouched for too long but we are pleased this magnificent monument will be restored to its former glory.”The lighthouse was last painted only eight years ago, he said. “Had it been sandblasted and painted properly then it wouldn’t be in the state that it is in today.“During that time painters closed the doors to the building and within days mould was growing inside and this also had to be scrubbed down and painted. I’m not sure if part of the $500,000 includes the interior of the lighthouse.“Perhaps Government has forgotten it is the oldest cast-iron lighthouse in the world and therefore requires constant attention.“We were a little surprised during the press conference Minister Scott could only remember the name of one of the contractors when $500,000 has been allocated for this project.”A Government spokesman yesterday admitted the “deterioration of the physical state of lighthouse might have been ameliorated” had the Department of Lands and Buildings carried out ongoing maintenance.“However, prioritisation of the available funding approved by the legislature left the work to commence this year,” he said.“We are satisfied that expenditure of approximately $500,000 will see the lighthouse’s return to a state of excellence.”He explained that it would be “less cost-effective and efficient to carry out the work in piecemeal fashion”.The spokesman continued: “Members of the public, in particular those members of the public seeking contract work, should be aware that an extensive request for proposal process will soon be announced with respect to a number of government-owned properties.“Large numbers of jobs in the construction industry are expected to result from that process. The renovation work on the washroom facilities will be completed by employees of the Department of Public Lands and Buildings.”Mr Scott said the project requires the services of a “highly specialised team” and “five companies with the required expertise were invited to submit bids for the painting and sandblasting of the lighthouse”.“Additionally, four welding companies with the required experience and expertise were invited to submit bids for remediation of the railing at the lighthouse,” he said.“These bids have now been assessed in accordance with a number of criteria including experience on projects of similar size, manpower resources, financial standing of the company and access to staging equipment to carry out the work.“A contract award recommendation will soon be prepared for Cabinet’s consideration. Once Cabinet has approved the bids, the names of the successful bidders will be publicly announced.”