1.  WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF LIGHT POLLUTION ON UK ASTRONOMY?

  I assume that professional astronomers will be making their own submissions. I speak as an amateur of well over 50 years' standing who, despite my amateur status, makes astronomical observations for the British Astronomical Association (variable stars, comets etc) which are used by professional astronomers.

  Since I first became interested in astronomy, in about 1945, I have seen a steady deterioration in our night skies. This has been particularly marked since I commenced "serious" observing around 1966.

  We now have (and this has been for about thirty years now) the situation whereby it is virtually impossible to see the Milky Way, zodiacal light, and any but the very brightest aurorae from all but the most remote parts of the UK. A couple of years ago there occurred the brightest aurora seen for many years, visible as far south as the Mediterranean. The vast majority of persons in the UK never noticed it as it was swallowed up in our ever present sodium glow.

  Whilst professionals often have the option of decamping to sites like La Palma, Chile, Hawaii, and Australia, this course of action is not open to amateurs. However the very fact that a proper night sky is becoming no longer visible to our children could mean that the early stimulus to entering a career in astronomy is no longer there.

2.  ARE CURRENT PLANNING GUIDELINES STRONG ENOUGH TO PROTECT AGAINST LIGHT POLLUTION?

  The current guidelines are not strong enough and stronger legal backing is necessary. Not all local planning authorities have included guidelines against light pollution in their local plans (although I believe only one in my own county hasn't).

  There are no controls at all on the installation of private "security" lights, which are frequently poorly designed and poorly sited with scant regard for light trespass into neighbouring gardens, nor for dazzling passing traffic. Light trespass is becoming as bad a problem as sky glow, and there is no remedy available to persons affected. It is impossible to observe the night sky when a badly designed 500 watt light from a garden up the road is shining into one's eyes. The evidence that "security lighting" deters crime is unclear, recent studies in the USA indicate just the opposite; but presumably the committeee will be considering this sort of evidence anyway.

3.  ARE PLANNING GUIDELINES BEING APPLIED EFFECTIVELY?

  In my opinion they are not. They are difficult and costly to enforce, and planning authorities do not necessarily have sufficient staff (or money) to follow up every breach of guidelines. Local authorities could be given more muscle, but this would require additional legislation by central government to give planning authorities firmer powers.

  In some cases, local representatives of the British Astronomical Association's Campaign for Dark Skies have been successful in reducing sources of light pollution by persuasion and/or co-operation with the local planning authority, but there are obvious limitations to this course of action by wholly voluntary `watchdogs'.

  As stated above, there are currently, as far as I am aware, no powers to combat light trespass.

4.  IS LIGHT MEASURABLE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MAKE LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE REGULATORY CONTROLS FEASIBLE?

  In a word, "yes".

5.  ARE FURTHER CONTROLS ON THE DESIGN OF LIGHTING NECESSARY?

  Definitely yes in the case of "security" lighting, advertisements, floodlighting (buildings and establishments such as golf driving ranges and sports facilities), and the lighting of private car parks. And controls are required not just for design, but also siting, and timing. Many lights remain on throughout the night when they are not required, and are just wasting energy as well as causing light pollution.

  In the case of public street lighting, the lighting authorities appear to have "got the message" and much new lighting is of the full cut-off type. But it still remains on throughout the night when there is little or no traffic about.

  But one sees far too many examples of poor lighting design on private sites, like supermarket car parks lit by hundreds of globe lights. These are the most inefficient type of unit, throwing over half of their light upwards, contributing to sky glow, with concomitant waste of energy.

SUMMING UP

  I hope the committee will give due consideration to the above comments, and that this Government will follow the enlightened lead provided by the Czech Republic, and several States of the USA in enacting stringent legislation aimed at eliminating light pollution in all its manifestations.

  I have largely restricted my comments to the adverse effects of light pollution on amateur astronomy, but I am sure that the committee will be aware of the energy implications. Nor have I referred to the growing evidence of the adverse effects of light pollution and trespass on wild life, especially birds and insects, and even vegetation.

2003