I have been an active amateur astronomer for over 30 years and practice as a Chartered Builder in the Construction industry so experience the lack of awareness, understanding and control of light pollution.

  Since my early days of astronomical observation the night sky has become progressively spoiled by light pollution to the point that many youngsters do not even notice the starry night sky above them. My astronomical observations have, in many cases, to be carried out from locations many miles from lit areas, which are becoming increasingly difficult to find. I list below some points over which I feel strongly that would go a long to reduce the effect of light pollution.

  (a)  The good control over street lighting design of new installations should be applied to repair and renewal programmes by Local Authorities. Often well designed luminaries installed as part of a new road scheme are replaced during maintenance with designs that are poor at restricting light pollution. The opportunity to reduce light pollution as part of lighting renewals is missed and should be enforced.

  (b)  Upward light spill and light trespass into adjoining properties should be controlled by legislation, especially domestic security lighting causing nuisance.

  (c)  Good lighting design with no illumination above the horizontal for domestic and industrial outdoor lighting should be enforced at planning stage, particularly security lighting.

  (d)  Sports lighting ie outdoor sports pitches and golf driving ranges are a severe source of light pollution and must have more strict guidelines applied to lighting design to avoid sky glow.

  (e)  A measure of light pollution should be based on the quantitive detection of light from the sky or by the reduction of the faintest star visible from a particular location compared with an agreed ideal. This would enable enforcement of standards to be achieved.

  (f)  The restriction/reduction of all lighting in certain designated areas such as areas of outstanding natural beauty, nature conservation areas, national and regional country parks. This would preserve some areas that would remain truly dark where the night sky can be enjoyed.

26 April 2003