Letter: Let there (not) be light
Thursday 6th May 2010, 8:58AM BST.
Letter: I was delighted to see Andy Boddington’s letter on April 19 about reducing street lighting to give us back the night skies.
As an astronomy enthusiast living in the Strettons I particularly support his proposal for a starlight sanctuary in the south Shropshire Hills.
Last year, the International Year of Astronomy, the Shropshire Astronomical Society attracted a lot of public interest at two observing sessions at Attingham Hall.
Last month a public meeting about astronomy at the National Trust centre in Carding Mill Valley attracted well over 100 people of all ages, and there is a lot of interest in holding local observing evenings.
I hope there will be plenty of public support for our councils in exploring well thought-out, selective reductions in lighting, and better lighting systems than the motorway-style floodlights which disfigure our towns and villages.
It’s a win-win opportunity in the present economic crisis: lower energy costs, a reduced carbon footprint, and the restoration to our grandchildren of one of nature’s most stunning marvels.
Rt Rev Michael Bourke
Little Stretton
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Whats the point in street lights after 11pm tell people to buy a torch. The very ones who would complain about them being switched off are the as it suits me eco lot.
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I absolutely agree. As a member of the Shropshire Astronomical Society and a committed greeny it makes sense from all angles.
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the key phrase here is “well thought-out, selective reductions in lighting”
bearing in mind we’re talking about local government here I think the idea is a non starter, pie in the nightsky (ahem) if you like.
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I can’t help wondering how many of those people who attended the astronomy meetings at Carding Mill Valley and Attingham Park went there on foot/via public transport. When you are cocooned in your cosy vehicle, you are not bothered by any lack of streetlighting – it’s the poor so-and-so making their way back home from the bus stop or station who would be struggling across uneven pavements and roads and worrying about the threat of muggers if streetlighting were reduced.
It’s very nice to be able to see the wonders of the cosmos: from my relatively well-lit street in Oakengates, depending on the time of year, I can often see the moon, Plough, Cassiopeia, Orion and Sirius, plus any planets that happen to be “in the neighbourhood”. I really don’t need to see any more, if it comes at the cost of pedestrians’ safety.
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Try living in an area that isn’t the best. Its uncomfortable coming home from work at night with no lighting. I live in an area where you wake up in the morning to find your car broken into and attempted robberies. When the street lights were on I could see people in the shadows and turn lights on to deter whatever and whoever was around – NOW its so dark in our street we don’t stand a chance. Just get in, lock up and hope its not my car tonight. Dumb idea, if you want to look at the stars take a drive out where lighting isnt needed, try the middle of a field.
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