Streetlighting and Species Decline

[Chris Pickford]

Some councils seem to be switching over to super-bright, white, LED streetlights. This would seem to pose a threat to many moths which will be attracted to them and either end up in a pile underneath, or get picked off by bats (the low-pressure sodium lamps currently in use in many areas are barely visible to insects and the orange light is said to be better for driving in misty or poor visibility conditions). It is particularly annoying in these cash-struck times that councils waste our money on lighting up everywhere at night as though it were day, for very little good reason (nb. there are reports that suggest crime increases with street lighting).

Do we know of any campaigning already taking place on this issue?? (apart from by astronomers who are up in arms....)

Chris

[Rogerdodge]

Streetlighting is a bit of a bugbear of mine.
Whilst I am no expert, I do love to look at the stars at night.

(My interest, I must add, is purely aesthetic, and not in any way scientific!!
Her Ladyship thinks I am an expert. "What is that constellation Roger?" she asks.
"That is Procrastinatus the Fisherman" I tell her - with practised authority!)

Street lighting creates horrible light pollution that blocks out or severly reduces our view of the night sky.
I caught a tiny bit of Country File last week where a council somewhere was turning lights out after a certain time at night, and the difference to the night sky view was apparently extraordinary.
In order to save on energy costs and light pollution, perhaps they should be on a PIR System (like security lights) set to only trigger with objects bigger than a fox or badger (i.e. people!).
I also agree that lighting that would attract moths could possibly have a bad effect on their populations.
I already get some delight from watching bats chase the small number of moths around the sodium light outside my house.

[Gibster]

I had "fun" helping a local golf driving range alter its floodlighting system a few years ago. A bit long-winded and it often stagnated, but the offending floodlighting was eventually changed to something more suitable (and switched off after hours!)

Here's a list of sites that may be of interest. I've merely copied them from a website, apologies if any links are broken.

The following organisations can provide information on light pollution:

British Astronomical Association (BAA)
Tel: 0207 734 4145
Email: office@britastro.org
http://www.britastro.org/baa


Campaign for Dark Skies
http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies


Campaign to Protect Rural England
Tel: 020 7981 2800
Email: info@cpre.org.uk
http://www.cpre.org.uk


Dark Skies for Northern Ireland
http://www.darkskies4ni.co.uk


Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)
Lighting Division
Tel: 020 8675 5211
Email: info@cibse.org
http://www.cibse.org


Institution of Lighting Engineers
Tel: 01788 576492
Email: info@ile.org.uk
http://www.ile.org.uk


Lighting Industry Federation (LIF)
Tel: 020 7793 3020
Email: info@lif.co.uk
http://www.lif.co.uk




Government Contacts


Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Tel: 08459 33 55 77
Email: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/qua ... /index.htm


Scottish Government
Tel: 08457 741741
Email: ceu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.scotland.gov.uk


Welsh Assembly Government
Tel: 0845 010 3300
Email: DeshWebCorrespondence@wales.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.wales.gov.uk


Department of Environment, Northern Ireland
Tel: 028 9025 4878
http://www.doeni.gov.uk

[Lee Hurrell]

The difference between the night sky in west London and say, rural Somerset is staggering. Even more so when you travel to southern Europe!

Where I am there's a yellow 'hum' which blights the horizon and spoils any view of the heavens. I really noticed the difference in France and Spain last year.

Cheers

Lee

[Susie]

The difference between the night sky in west London and say, rural Somerset is staggering. Even more so when you travel to southern Europe!

Where I am there's a yellow 'hum' which blights the horizon and spoils any view of the heavens. I really noticed the difference in France and Spain last year.

Cheers

Lee

You can imagine what it was like for me as a child, Lee, growing up in West London and then going on holiday to Majorca when I was 9 and seeing the night sky. I was absolutely gobsmacked and had never seen anything like it. To this day I can remember what it looked like and how impressed I was.

[Lee Hurrell]

You can imagine what it was like for me as a child, Lee, growing up in West London and then going on holiday to Majorca when I was 9 and seeing the night sky. I was absolutely gobsmacked and had never seen anything like it. To this day I can remember what it looked like and how impressed I was.

I know what you mean Susie, I think that's why I really notice it now, even though I've only been in London for 5 or 6 years. Bring on the move back to the country

[ChrisC]

I had new street lighting done last year, running a light in the back garden i was quite concerned that it may interfere, new light right outside the house, it was hard to tell one way or the other if it was good or bad. yes finding bat droppings on the bonnet of the car was worrying, but i also got my first emperor in three years. I will say though for light pollution the new lights around here are far better at focusing the light downward. no orange haze across the night sky.
Chris

[Susie]

I don't know what it's like in other parts of the country but they turn our street lighting off here at about 12pm - 1am. Obviously by then any sensible country person should be tucked up in bed.