I am a reasonably experienced amateur astronomer whose main interest is in assisting professional astronomers to better define the orbits of Near Earth Asteroids. I am a member of the British Astronomical Association on whose Council I serve and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

  I have some comments to make with respect to questions two and four raised by the Science and Technology Committee in making their inquiry in to Light Pollution and Astronomy.

2.  CURRENT PLANNING GUIDELINES

  My local authority, Havant Borough Council, has, to the best of my knowledge, no planning guidelines with respect to light pollution. For example I asked if a streetlight opposite my house could be fitted with a shield to keep light off my observatory in my garden. The answer I received was contradictory in that, if a shield was fitted, the pavement opposite the light would not be properly illuminated but, if I paid for a shield, one would be fitted! Although new lights on main roads are, in the main, of the full-cut off variety progress in fitting such lights in residential areas is non-existent.

  Many local authorities and some countries now have planning regulations covering light pollution so there are plenty of examples around which legislation could be drawn up.

4.  IS LIGHT MEASURABLE ETC

  Security lighting, business and private, is now one of the major problem areas and does need legislation. I believe the answer is fairly simple—no light from lighting that is intended for exterior illumination should be allowed to fall on adjacent properties or be directed above the horizontal. Such a ruling should apply to permanent lighting and that which is temporary eg exhibitions, pop festivals and the like.

  Once legislation is in place it could be enforced in the same way that nuisance from noise is today.

10 April 2003