Part Night Lighting Essex

[Scooot]

FYI: Basildon Lights are staying on

 

Yes they anticipate mid feb now unless you know anymore.

[zakkhogan]

only that a hearing will be held on the 10th of feb

[Blazar]

Surely they have got to see sense....I can't wait for the electricity bill for the parish lights is passed over to hawkwell parish council....sure they will soon decide to 'give them back to ECC'.

[zakkhogan]

what i dont really understand is how they can object at the 10th hour, surly all objections should be maid before the decision is maid final. 

If ECC or BDC sent a letter though my door saying they were digging up the road and i forgot to raise my objections before the deadline, i pretty sure if i went upto them on the day work was ment to commence and said 'Ohh yeah i forgot to mention I object to you digging up my Road" im pretty sure they would tell me Hard Luck.

It's just stalling tactics.

[knobby]

They don't seem to want to do it Craig... So any objection is greatfully received !

[zakkhogan]

Bar-steward's

[knobby]

It'll happen... One day :-)

[zakkhogan]

have your's gone off gary?

[knobby]

No mate, not even sure if they're going off

[Simms]

I think ECC timed this wrong - they should of looked at turning them off in June/July when we have short evenings and it doesnt get "full dark" - I think from a psychological point of view it would of won more people over.

[knobby]

They should just do it! Give people the option to keep their lights on if they pay for the lekky... Better still turn them all off and put a 50p slot meter on them :-)

[Tddun]

When they say 'closed for the winter' I suspect they mean that the main walks around the sea wall are closed, which I think they do to protect the over-wintering birds from disturbance.  They can't physically close the site since it is a public right of way as far as the farm, and the last time I went down there (a few years ago admittedly) there was no gate on the track to the small car park near the barn.  You might just chance it for a look see - they can't stop you going down as far as the farm and parking there at the very least, since it is a public right of way. I can't really see that anyone is going to object since you aren't causing a nuisance or an obstruction, but there is always a possibility of getting some hassle from the farmer I suppose.

I don't really know anywhere else in the vicinity that isn't right next to the road and subject to disturbance due to car lights and passers by.

Made a trip down there the other day, just stopped halfway down Copt. Hall Lane for 10 minutes to have a look out and see how dark it was, no serious observing. Managed to get there at midnight to see the 'switch-off'. Got to say I was hoping to see more stars than I did there.. think really though for any dramatic views of the night sky I'm probably out of luck anywhere in East Anglia. Perhaps if I would have stayed a bit longer and become fully dark adapted I would have seen more, but I think for the view I'm after it isn't no 20-30 minute drive away!

[knobby]

Hi Tddun, this place is about 20 minutes from Colchester, been meaning to have a look but not got round to it yet.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/preview/@51.7830501,0.3131424,584m/data=!3m1!1e3

its in the middle of a dark zone on the light pollution map and there is a lane with a concrete hard standing at the end of it.

[knobby]

<img src='http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/04/8atynu8y.jpg' alt='Posted Image' class='bbc_img' />

[Blazar]

Looks like that might be a private / farm road? could not see any signs up though.....

[knobby]

Says public footpath at the road end, suspect it belongs to garnish hall farm, just opposite and south a bit

[Blazar]

So is it worth a visit...if the clouds leave? would be up for an evening out...

[knobby]

Well its in the middle of the dark bit on the dark sky site, is clean and flat, fairly unobstructed in most directions... I'll try to find the owner first and check with them

[knobby]

Need to pop over there when its dark to see if its worth knocking on doors first I guess.

[dan_uk]

Been working with Knobby on a few potential sites and also been driving around some and here's a few i've found:

+51 44'7.08", +0 19'3.76"

This one has a small area of concrete and is in a dark spot on the light pollution map.

Been trying to get access to the angling club area in the field south of the co-ordinates above, but no one seems to know of a contact to check that out.

I did speak to Hodgkins Farm across the road and they recommended this airfield, they say that it is unused and a few searches show its owned by the local council and used by the Essex Shooting Ground. I sent the shooting club an email to see if I could get some details but seems as its not owned by a local we should just be able to use it:

51°43'53?N 000°18'09?E

Plenty of parking too!

[knobby]

Airfield looks promising

[dan_uk]

Bad news, the gun club guy said the airfield is locked up at night. I asked if I could contact someone about a key and he said he wouldnt bother to give me the details as it will definitely be a no... 

[Blazar]

I would ask the council anyway..they can then say no in person....but until you ask...who knows.

[knobby]

I've been using this 

best bets so far are a small lake off Norton heath road Willingale and a Public footpath leading to a concrete area off the A1060 at Margaret Roding

[knobby]

This is an almost 360 degree veiw from the Margaret Roding site