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LIGHT POLLUTION in Herefordshire
Star Count Week 2012. CPRE & CfDS are
calling for the public to 'count the stars' again. The results from this
count will be used to continue to map and campaign on light pollution
in the UK.
Learn more about Star Count Week 2012 &
join us in counting the stars! Please encourage friends and family
to join in too.
Light pollution is a serious issue both nationally and
within Herefordshire. In Herefordshire, light pollution increased
by approx. 24% between 1993 and 2000. CPRE Herefordshire was 
surprised
and concerned about this large increase, particularly as we remain one
of England’s most rural counties.
What is Light Pollution and
why does it matter?
Light pollution is lighting which obscures the view of the night
sky and turns our envionment into an artificial 'day'. Many
children today will not have seen the impressive sight of the Milky Way.
Moreover it does not just obscure our view of the stars but has other
implications. Disrupted sleep patterns for people and
disturbance to wildlife also having an impact. The Royal
Commission on Environmental Pollution 2009 report, Artificial Light
in the Environment, concluded that there is evidence of potential
ecological impacts from artificial light.
There is also a financial cost involved. Councils spend a collective 532 million pounds on street lighting each year and the lights can account for around 5-10 per cent of a council's carbon emissions. The cost of not acting are clear: unecessarily high energy bills for councils and therefore for local taxpayers, more carbon emissions, more sleep disruption, further disturbance to wildlife and a night sky bereft of stars.
The results from a joint survey by CPRE and CfDS on 2010 showed that
83 per cent have their view of the night sky affected by light pollution.
Of those affected, almore 50 per cent said their sleep had been disrupted
by excessive artificial lighting.
Survey
results pdf
What can you do?
Individuals and businesses, whether in an urban or rural environment,
can also consider the impact of their lighting schemes on the quality
of life for others. A profusion of security lights, and those badly sited,
can distract or blind road users, light up neighbours houses and gardens
and those left on constantly are contributing unnecessarily to co2 emissions.
In 2011 the Government published their draft National Planning Policy
framework (NPPF). The draft policy briefly mentioned the issue: Para
175. By encouraging good design, planning policies and decisions should
limit the impact of light pollution on local amenity, intrinsically dark
landscapes and nature conservation.
There is still a chance to influence the NPPF, as amendments are
being made. To have your say on this issue or others affecting the countryside
in the wake of the proposed changes to the planning system, please click
on the following link to email
your MP and ask your friends and family to do the same.
Join the
2012 Star Count from 20th - 27th January
- Relish the dark and celebrate the inky night
- Make star gazing in the garden the social occasion of the 21st century
- Rekindle the spirit of the ARP and the Ministry of Information, and “Put that light out” unless it’s really necessary
ACTION NEEDED TO REDUCE LIGHT POLLUTION
There are three main sources. Public lighting e.g. street lights; industrial
lighting e.g. factories; and home lighting e.g. security lights. To make
a difference it is important that we tackle all three sources of light
pollution.
The Campaign for Dark Skies have produced a handbook Blinded by the Light. More information on the CfDS can be found by clicking on the handbook link.
What is being done?
In 2011 the Government also published their Natural Environment
White Paper, which included proposals on light pollution.
4.32. "... We will work with industry and other bodies
to reduce the negative impacts of artificial light and protect existing
dark areas. For safety reasons, some types of premises including airports
and bus stations, are exempt from creating a statutory nuisance from artificial
light sources. In 2011 we will consult relevant organisations on whether
the exemptions from artificial light statutory nuisance continue to be
appropriate and take action if necessary". This consultation
has begun and the closing date is 17th February 2012.
Some local authorities have taken action on light pollution. Learn
more on local authority action from the CPRE national site.
‘Light pollution of the night sky is an increasing intrusion
into the countryside at night, and is an issue we want all rural local
authorities to take into account in their planning and other decisions’’.
Rural White Paper, 2000
Light Pollution in
Herefordshire
In January 2005 CPRE Herefordshire hosted a highly successful
half day symposium on Light Pollution. An audience of County Councillors,
Parish Councillors, Business representatives, Civic Trusts, Environmental
campaigners and consultants and CPRE members heard presentations from
CPRE National Office; the
Campaign for Dark Skies, Devon County Council, Herefordshire Council
and The Monmouth Astronomical Society.
The symposium followed a CPRE Herefordshire-sponsored on-line survey,
conducted in 2004, to gather information about light pollution in the
county. The results
of the Night Blight survey are available in pdf format.
Councillor Roger Phillips, the then Leader of the Herefordshire
Council, received the results of the "Night Blight" survey from
CPRE's Tom Oliver at CPRE Herefordshire’s 2004 AGM. CPRE
Herefordshire has called for Herefordshire Council to take a much more
active role in tackling light pollution, which it can do by careful and
sensitive scrutiny of planning applications and development proposals
to ensure that any external lighting schemes will not increase pollution.
Herefordshire Council could also adopt a policy on public lighting schemes
which would result in low-polluting, downlights being installed wherever
and whenever possible. Experience in Devon has shown that while budget
restrictions may prevent the wholescale replacement of lighting schemes
with new technology, there are relatively inexpensive ways of reducing
the polluting effect of old lights.
CPRE Herefordshire asked Parish Councils to appoint a ‘Dark Skies
Officer’ who can monitor light pollution locally and liaise with
local businesses and individuals to encourage and promote a local policy
of ‘consideration for dark skies’.
Parish Councils can also encourage the County Council planners to act
by making constructive comments on those planning
applications which may have light pollution implications.
Learn more about CPRE Herefordshire and CPRE's work in Herefordshire
CPRE Herefordshire is a registered Charity: No: 213951. The Campaign to Protect Rural England exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country.