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# Plymouth City Council failure leaves Smeaton’s Tower wrong colour on COVID day
- URL: https://www.plymouthplus.co.uk/plymouth-city-council-failure-leaves-smeatons-tower-wrong-colour-on-covid-day/
- Published: 2026-03-09T20:00:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-11T13:07:26.000Z
- Author: Seamus McCoy
- Tags: Plymouth City Council, News, #editors-picks

Plymouth City Council has apologised after Smeaton’s Tower was left glowing the wrong colour on the COVID-19 Day of Reflection.

More than 230,000 have died as a result of COVID-19 in the UK, meaning the day carries deep significance for bereaved families and communities.

The council had previously promised the tower would be lit yellow to mark the day of remembrance, but the colour change did not happen.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/74/83/7483ab0e-4e89-48b0-a2a9-d29bc2bbbe08/content/images/2026/03/PCC-COVID-1.jpg)

(Image: Facebook)

​Only after Plymouth Plus contacted the council, asking why the tribute had not taken place, was an apology issued. 

In a statement, [Plymouth City Council](https://www.plymouthplus.co.uk/tag/plymouth-city-centre/) claimed that the lighting change failed due to an "unexpected IT problem late in the evening". They added:

> *"We are very sorry that this intended tribute did not take place as planned. We know how important the Day of Reflection is to many people in our community and we understand the disappointment this may have caused."*

The COVID-19 Day of Reflection is held across the UK to remember those who died during the pandemic and to recognise the impact it had on families, frontline workers and communities.

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