IDENTITY

  Shropshire Astronomical Society was formed in 1994 to promote scientific and practical astronomy for the education and enjoyment of any person within and without the County. Membership is around 60. Sixteen meetings are held per year. It is a member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies.

INTENSITY OF LIGHT POLLUTION

  Lying in rural areas, most of Shropshire's villages and hamlets are only affected by local, often unpredictable sources of external lighting. Typically these emanate from dairy units, haulage depots, quarries and similar industrial activities. However, most of the County's population lives in the major towns of Telford and Shrewsbury or in the smaller towns of Oswestry, Whitchurch, Ludlow and Bridgnorth. In these areas light pollution is general and continuous during the hours of darkness. Intensity is moderate to high until after midnight when it falls to moderate, by which time entertainment venues, outdoor display lots and public car parks have had their floodlighting switched off.

IMPACT OF LIGHT POLLUTION ON THE NIGHT SKY

  On clear nights, observers ten or more miles from Telford and Shrewsbury or six miles from the smaller towns can see stars down to magnitude five and the Milky Way. Within urban and suburban areas, visibility is limited to magnitude three stars and the brighter planets, except under very favourable conditions.

CHANGES IN EXTERNAL LIGHTING

  Since the Society was formed we have continuously monitored changes in lighting of various types. Major highway lighting has improved from the observer's point of view, with the installation of full cut-off fittings. Although these are of the less favourable, high-pressure sodium type, the efficiency of the shading has made a welcome difference for observers living near trunk roads in rural areas.

  White light pollution has increased dramatically in the period, especially from floodlit buildings such as supermarkets, car display areas, cinemas, night clubs, churches and the like. The most intense sources are those arising from sports pitches and courts, although these are generally switched off at 10 pm. Although some types of omni-directional fittings, such as globe lights, are used less now than hitherto, there has been a proliferation of even worse offenders, such as pavement lights and other upward-facing building floodlights.

  Of particular concern to astronomers is the indiscriminate domestic use of localized security lights of the kind readily available from DIY stores. These are nearly always fixed to buildings to shine into back gardens (thus spilling into neighbouring gardens) or forwards into the road (into eyes of passing motorists).

IMPACT OF PLANNING DECISIONS—SUBJECTIVE VIEW

  Although planning applications for major developments embody Environmental Impact Assessments, the attention paid to the effects of external lighting would appear to be nominal. Examples may be found in many urban and suburban areas where new developments have added significantly to light pollution for part of the night, at least. As a Society, we have been concerned about the proposals for the New Meadow football stadium at Meole Brace, just south of Shrewsbury. We have asked that full details of the proposed floodlighting to all pitches and car parks be made available for scrutiny because we did not consider the consultant's statements to be adequate enough to ensure Best Practice would be embedded in the conditions attached to the planning consent.

STATEMENT

  The Shropshire Astronomical Society fully supports the submission made to the Select Committee by the BAA Campaign for Dark Skies. It endorses the call for stricter rules applying to the design and installation of external light fittings for all developments and changes of use, particularly where the existing ambient lighting level is likely to be significantly increased by uncontrolled upward spread (above a horizontal plane centred on the proposed fittings).

OPINION

  The Shropshire Astronomical Society believes that the issue of light pollution should be treated as a threat to heritage values. It is becoming ever more apparent that succeeding generations of children will only learn about the solar system and the universe beyond through books and modern teaching media. We believe the virtual experience is no substitute for the "real" experience and that we have a duty to preserve and protect the opportunity for that experience in the 21st century.

A QUESTION FOR THE COMMITTEE

  Why shouldn't the use of external lighting be controlled to limit the invasion of the individual and collective spaces of our private and public spaces by unwanted stray light? The law recognizes the concept of nuisance, of a reasonable duty of care laid on owners and occupiers to contain what might adversely affect others. Why can't this principle be extended to cover isolated and intense sources of light spilling from one property to another? Should we identify "dark protected" sites with existing heritage areas such as National parks?

SUMMARY

  The Committee of Shropshire Astronomical Society welcomes the inquiry being conducted by the Select Committee, believes that light pollution has increased significantly, that planning controls are inadequate and that society has a duty to ensure its members will not be so prevented from enjoying the night sky.

1 March 2003