Light Pollution Developments in the UK

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Light Pollution Developments in the UK

• Martin Morgan-Taylor, IDA CfDS
• Bob Mizon, CfDS Co-ordinator

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Campaign for Dark Skies founded 1989
www.dark-skies.org 140 LOCAL OFFICERS IN THE UK
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CfDS officers
Jersey?
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Tom Harris MP
Andrew Murrison MP
Des Turner MP
Robert Key MP
Parliamentary Science and Technology Select
Committee 2003
Bob Spink MP
Ian Gibson MP (chairman)?
Brian Iddon MP
Tony McWalter MP
Evan Harris MP
Parmjit Dhanda MP
Geraldine Smith MP
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Pre-Existing Laws

• Still no dedicated LP laws in the UK
• However,
• 0ULR on trunk roads (Highways Authority
  controlled)
• Common law and now statutory nuisance

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Planning

• England, Wales has PPS and PPG planning guidance
• PPS1 mentions light pollution as an issue
• PPS23 Pollution Control also does
• However, no dedicated planning guidance

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Planning

• The Building Regulations do however control
  consumer floodlighting
• Exterior floodlighting of new build dwellings is
  limited to 150watts, or to lamps having an
  efficacy greater than 40 lumens per circuit watt
• Tungsten and tungsten halogen lamps do not meet
  this criterion

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Planning

• Lighting Annex to PPS23 would provide this.
• However, DCLG has frozen all planning guidance-
  want to reduce the volume of guidance!
• Major consultation last Summer for major
  infrastructure

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Planning

• Major infrastructure to have a special comission
  to decide
• However, clause 155 of the Bill aims to make all
  major infrastructure developments exempt from any
  form of nuisance

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Planning

• How can a planning Commission decide on planning
  if it has no guidance on lighting?
• Compensation is supposed to be available, but how
  will this work?
• The CfDS and all other stakeholders are fighting
  this clause

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Planning Scotland

• Scotland has a slightly different planning system
• It has a planning guidance document for lighting
• Does not mention the night sky

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New Skybeams

• Old law was very confusing- some were permitted,
  but advertising beams were not permitted
• Case law stated they could be advertising

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New Skybeams

• Advertising Regulations 2007
• Paragraph 155 expressly makes skybeams and light
  art adverts AND makes them have to apply for
  planning permission
• Enforcement is an issue
• However, some success in Leicester with
  travelling circuses, they wont be able to
  return!

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The Way Forward

• The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
  is writing a short paper on the negative effects
  of light
• Will be making recommendations (very persuasive
  on the Government)

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The Way Forward

• Will almost certainly be asking where the
  lighting annex to PPS23 is
• The CfDS has made an application to control
  consumer floodlighting

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The Recommendation

• EITHER Lamp capacity does not exceed 150W per
  light fitting and that the lighting automatically
  switches off
• When there is enough daylight and
• When it is not required at night
• b) OR the lighting fittings have sockets that
  can only be used with lamps having an efficacy
  greater than 40 lumens per circuit watt. AND
• Banning the sale of light fittings which can be
  angled to emit light above the horizontal. AND
• Limiting the maximum Wattage of tungsten halogen
  bulbs to 150Watts.

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Too much lighting isn't planned it just
happens Ian Phillips, Chairman, Landscape
Institute We have reached a second watershed-
that of soaring energy prices Dr. John Mason,
CfDS
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And a final thought
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Thank you Danke Merci Grazie Gracias Dank u wel