Re street lighting

In the past, there have been quite a few suggestions on some of the
newsgroups that it is possible to get streetlights shielded by the local
autorities. On reflection, I think most of these have been in the USA. Has
anyone had success in getting their local council in the UK to shield
streetlighting?


DaveL


Yes, I and many others have.

I asked for and received a 'full cut-off' shield and also a flat shield to the
light at the bottom of my garden that illuminates an unused lane! Point out
to them that they are unlawfully trespassing on your right to a dark sky over
your property. You do have rights against trespassers and explain that your
request is quite reasonable and easily accommodated.

best wishes

Lawrence Harris

"Lawrence" wrote in message
...
In the past, there have been quite a few suggestions on some of the
newsgroups that it is possible to get streetlights shielded by the local
autorities. On reflection, I think most of these have been in the USA.
Has
anyone had success in getting their local council in the UK to shield
streetlighting?


DaveL


Yes, I and many others have.

I asked for and received a 'full cut-off' shield and also a flat shield to
the
light at the bottom of my garden that illuminates an unused lane! Point
out
to them that they are unlawfully trespassing on your right to a dark sky
over
your property. You do have rights against trespassers and explain that
your
request is quite reasonable and easily accommodated.


Increasingly local authorities are now using full cut-off lighting as
"standard". In recent years the lighting on the M27 and even on the A35
through my village - Ashurst - has been so treated. The cut off is so good
that walking over the railway bridge in Ashurst at night it is only possible
to see the lamp-posts of all but the closest lamps - the "luminaires" emit
no light even to about 20 or 30 degrees below the horizontal. There was
also a road safety issue - the old lighting was visible well out into the
New Forest, giving motorists approaching on the A35 a dangerous impression
that the road is level while in fact a low "summit" exists which hides
oncoming traffic. Now all is darkness and they have to drive according to
what their headlights show.

Ask your local highway authority what their policy is. Ask now, as I have
read somewhere that many of our street lighting columns are becoming "life
expired" and will soon need replacing. Now could be the time to ensure that
this replacement programme is "dark sky" friendly.
--
- Yokel -
oo oo
OOO OOO
OO 0 OO
) ( I ) (
) ( /\ ) (
Yokel @ Ashurst New Forest
SU 336 107 17m a.s.l.

"Yokel" now posts via a spam-trap account.
Replace my alias with stevejudd to reply.

"Yokel" wrote:

Increasingly local authorities are now using full cut-off lighting as
"standard". In recent years the lighting on the M27 and even on the A35
through my village - Ashurst - has been so treated.

Trunk roads have been improving for quite a few years - the
responsibility of central government. The point of giving authority
for minor roads (and many other matters) to local government is that
local government is more responsive to local need. At least that's
what I read on the back of a pig just before it took off.

--
Martin Frey
http://www.hadastro.org.uk
N 51 02 E 0 47