I would like to make the following comments.

  1.  Most professional observatories have relocated away from the UK mainland mainly due to the poor seeing conditions here, but partly because there are no dark sites left in Britain. Unfortunately most amateurs do not have the luxury of being able to do the same.

  2.  If all lighting on roads and in built up areas used full cut of luminaires there would be a dramatic reduction in light pollution, but I do not believe that this, as yet, is a mandatory requirement. If full cut off lighting were used exclusively, then fewer lights would be required, resulting in a great saving in energy consumption, and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from power stations.

  3.  It is possible to measure sound nuisance by using a decibel meter. Similarly light meters could be used to determine the suitability of lighting. It merely requires a specification for the instrument, and instructions on how it should be used.

  4.  Further controls are needed to prevent proliferation of bad lighting, particularly globe lights and advertising displays, as these spill light skywards. Controls are also required to insist that when lights need replacing they are done so with full cut off types.

  The frequently stated fact that lighting prevents crime has now been shown to be false. It merely allows criminals to see what that they are doing. Lighting at night confuses some wildlife, particularly migrating birds, and many are killed as a result.

19 February 2003