Comments from Heritage Lincolnshire, which looks after the 15th century landmark, come in the wake of controversial calls by Mayor Coun Ossy Snell for it to be torn down.

He felt the tower cost the taxpayer too much to maintain, and his opinions sparked a flurry of replies in our letters pages.

Now heritage development officer Liz Bates has put forward her side of the argument, saying her colleagues were 'astonished' by Coun Snell's remarks.

She said: "The Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire has been acting as manager of Hussey Tower since 1996, and the past eight years have seen significant investment in the landscape setting of the monument and for the provision of access to the site and information on its history.

"Despite this investment, the annual budget required for maintenance of the monument has increased by 25 per cent over the period.

"Hussey Tower has reached a crisis point in its 500-year history. Investment is needed now to secure its future preservation.

"We owe it to future generations to preserve the building, but we also owe it to the present generation to allow more frequent access to it."

A feasibility study has been proposed to look into the possibility of re-roofing the building, allowing it to be opened to visitors more often.

Mrs Bates said this would help develop the tower as a heritage and educational facility, and would have the long-term effect of reducing maintenance costs.