Street Lights

[Coops]

Folling a recent thread I contacted my local councillor about a street light that shines in to my back garden. Basically told them It was keeping my 5 year old lad awake at night.

Had a knock on the door today some chap in a suit with the obligatory clip from the council wanted to see the lamp in question. Had One look agreed and its now being back plated also they are going to do the one in front of the house :cheers:

I need to find the original post to thank the member for the link,this is it if anyone else has a similar problem http://www.writetothem.com/

Nice one guys may all your back gardens be dark

[The Warthog]

Good one! I've just moved my scope into the shadow of my shed. Best I can do, as I don't have a five-year-old.

[AstroTiger]

You might also be wise to contact the CfDS re this.

http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/

Martin Taylor is a specialist lawyer in this field. As an officer representing Northants for the CfDS i can say that Tresspass of light pollution onto your premises is against the law. Especially if this light soure effects the standard and quality of your life.

Hope this helps.

[rawhead]

Nice one Coops

[Talitha]

Excellent!

[michaelmorris]

Good one! I've just moved my scope into the shadow of my shed. Best I can do, as I don't have a five-year-old.

That needn't be an obstacle. I rang up my local council (Worcester City) and spoke to a nice chap about the problem of the glare from the back of a street light causing problems with observing. I followed this up with a short, informative letter with attached photos illustating the problem. Within two weeks they had put tape across the back of the lamp; problem solved.

All I had to do is speak to them nicely and try to get them on my side. They couldn't have been more helpful.

[Helen]

I had an interesting chat with a finance director of one of our local authorities yesterday. He was saying how increased fuel bills are hitting their budget... I suggested turning off the lights, and he said he agreed but had a problem. To do so with the current technology in place in his authority would require someone to switch each one off individually :shock: . So the dilemma was whether they could afford to upgrade their technology to save money in the longer term. As a local taxpayer you can see his point! But maybe if we volunteered to go and switch them off...

Helen

[Jeff RV]

I had an interesting chat with a finance director of one of our local authorities yesterday. He was saying how increased fuel bills are hitting their budget... I suggested turning off the lights, and he said he agreed but had a problem. To do so with the current technology in place in his authority would require someone to switch each one off individually :shock: . So the dilemma was whether they could afford to upgrade their technology to save money in the longer term. As a local taxpayer you can see his point! But maybe if we volunteered to go and switch them off...

Helen

Would be great!! But i can't see a way they can turn them off legally, If a member of the public had an accident and proved it was the due to the lack of street lights, this would open the flood gates for litigation the way it is unfortunately now in the UK.

Just a thought.

Jeff.

[AstroTiger]

on that note i was at the dagenham festival the other weekend and was speaking to some town planners.

These chaps are building the new olympic village.

As soon as i mentioned issues of light pollution to them, the chap was most interested in liasiing to ensure that the correct lighting was therefore used.

After years of asking and campainging against light pollution, and it was that easy?

Fact

Bad light increases bills

Fact, bad lighting does not do the intended job as effectively as it should

and FACT bad lighting leades to > CO2 emissions by and large

the last time i looked up at the london sky, it was orange? seems as though its not just Mars with tht colour!

No seriously, by and large these council reps are not informed as to light pollution or otherwise the nuiscence bad lighting can cause.

Education is all they need!

Which of course is what we strive to provide ;-)

[Coops]

Warthog

I have a five year old you can rent...if that helps ..Second thoughts you can have him for free :D

[Jeff RV]

Warthog

I have a five year old you can rent...if that helps ..Second thoughts you can have him for free :D

Sounds very similar to my Gran children :clouds1:

Jeff.