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More than 2 and a half thousand people have joined a facebook group to save Bristol's Cabot Tower.

The long standing City landmark on Brandon Hill has been shut since 2007. It was closed because of structural problems, cracks had begun to appear in the walls so it was deemed too dangerous for members of the public to climb the internal spiral staircase.

The tower is 105 feet high.  It commemorates the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's voyage to Newfoundland in America in 1497. The tower was built in 1897 and opened on 6th September 1898. It was designed by the Bristol architect William Venn Gough and paid for by the public. He said the design was based on a tower in the Loire in France. 

The restoration of the tower is now in the hands of Bristol City Council and English Heritage.  They have both said they are currently in the process of working together to try and sort out a grant for work to go ahead at the site. But so far neither party has been able to give details of any funding secured to pay for the works or the timescale of the planned restoration.

Many members who've joined the social networking site are asking what they can do to push along plans to reopen the tower.  Comments posted make it clear how much the tower means to local people with one saying: "The tower affords unrivalled panoramic views of the city and beyond and can be a delightfully romantic rendezvous."

Others called the tower 'a wonderful building. A little jewel.' and 'the best place in Bristol'.

Click here to visit the Facebook fan page

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