ISSUE NO. 23
SPRING 2004
CAMPAIGN FOR
DARK SKIES
NEWSLETTER OF THE BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION’S
CAMPAIGN FOR DARK SKIES
www.dark-skies.org
ISSUE NO. 23
SPRING 2004NEWSLETTER OF THE BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION’S
CAMPAIGN FOR DARK SKIES
www.dark-skies.org
Select Committee report
applauded by CfDS
Recommends statutory nuisance
status for stray light
On
October 6th 2003, the Parliamentary Select Committee for Science and
Technology issued its report of more than 30,000 words on light pollution
in the United Kingdom. Earlier in the year, CfDS members had given illustrated
talks to the 11 Committee MPs, and had supplied formal evidence at Westminster,
as did Guy Hurst, BAA President. Also involved were the two Astronomers Royal,
the RAS, the CPRE, the Highways Agency, Ministers from the Office of the Deputy
Prime Minister and Department for Education and Skills, PPARC, the Institution
of Lighting Engineers and representatives of local authorities.
CfDS is grateful to
those hundreds of groups and individuals who, following our appeal or
independently, submitted written evidence.
The Report is almost
everything we had hoped for. It does not change the law, nor does it oblige the
Government to act; but the forcefulness of its direct accusations of
indifference and confusion on the subject of light pollution among ministers
and Central Government is such that they surely cannot ignore it. In the
Report, the Select Committee writes:
“We regret
that PPARC and the Government have adopted a defeatist attitude towards light
pollution and astronomy... There are substantial numbers of amateur
astronomers, astronomy undergraduates and postgraduates and professional
astronomers observing in the UK. Amateur and professional astronomers have
undertaken a dual rôle of showing and explaining the night sky to students,
pupils and the general public, whilst campaigning for the last ten years to
prevent further degradation of the night sky. It is time they received support
from PPARC and the Government.” (Paragraph 40)
The value and contribution of the amateur
astronomical community are thus fully acknowledged, as is the rôle that seeing
the night sky, and studying astronomy, can play in the launching of a career in
science:
“There is a real opportunity of using the enthusiastic
astronomy community to
increase the numbers of school pupils taking astronomy
and continuing into physics.
PPARC and DfES together should bring to bear more
pressure on ODPM and DEFRA to find a way to protect the skies, particularly
around those observatories who work with local schools.” (Paragraph 41)
The
Select Committee fully supports the call for proper action on excessive
lighting:
“Light trespass and glare affect astronomers, but… can
also affect us all. We are persuaded by the evidence that light trespass is
measurable and controllable. We recommend that obtrusive light should be made a
statutory nuisance.” (Paragraph
146)
“There are too many local planning authorities which
have not taken the issue of light pollution seriously and have not included
light pollution in their local plans. The Government must take steps to rectify
this. It should have a clear policy on when Full Cut Off lighting should be
used, and we recommend that this policy is communicated to local authorities.” (Paragraph 123)
The general conclusions of the Report
underline the poor performance of legislators so far on this issue. The Select
Committee fears that time may be running out for the night sky, and
recommends swift action: “We believe that the Government should monitor
the situation in the UK carefully over the next five to ten years. Should the
creation of a statutory nuisance of light, a separate PPG for light
pollution, (continued
p.2…)
Encouraging
Star Quality Lighting
and enhanced guidance to local authorities on the issue
of light pollution not produce a reduction of the current levels of skyglow, the
Government must consider adopting similar legislation to other countries, to
control the types of outside lighting used, and to ensure that no outdoor
lighting shines above the horizontal. The
Government must recognise, as other countries have, that
the night sky needs protecting.” (Paragraph 153)
“The Government may not consider the effect of light
pollution on astronomy in the UK to be a pressing issue, but amateur
astronomers have taken on the issue on behalf of those who mourn the loss of
the night sky, not only astronomers but also the general public, and those
affected by the unwelcome intrusion of light. If the Government accepts this
Report’s recommendations it will start the process of reducing light pollution.
In 20 years time it might then be possible for young people
studying astronomy to see the Milky Way in the UK night
skies once more.”
(Paragraph 158)
Those campaigning
for a turning of the tide of wasted light are, on the whole, realists. CfDS
knows that the battle will still be a long one, and that the skies can never
again be as dark as they were a century ago. But the optimum night sky for all,
in towns or in the countryside, is achievable if those in power allow it to be
so. The Select Committee report is not a “quick-fix” magic wand. But it is
certainly a big stick with which to beat the decision-makers if they continue
to close their eyes to the value and majesty of the environment above.
All those who
appreciate the positive nature of the report are asked to communicate their
approval to the Science and Technology Select Committee at the House of
Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1A 0AA
scitechcom@parliament.uk and
urge MPs to support a positive response from HM Government.
For
the full report, see www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmsctech/747/747.pdf
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Leicester City LO David Conner contacted Homebase (Leicester),
which was selling 'Rottweiler' floodlights manufactured by IQ Group with
'anti-light pollution' and 'dark- sky friendly' on their packaging. IQ said
that they were using a “lighting industry definition” of dark-sky friendly, but
that they would consider including instructions on installing them in a
dark-sky friendly manner. Worryingly, Leicester Trading Standards said that the
inclusion of such instructions would justify these claims being made. Fortunately,
the new packaging does not make misrepresentative and misleading claims, and
the instructions include a couple of sentences on how not to annoy the
neighbours.
From Darkest Devon
Joy Griffiths has extracted an assurance from the Environment
Directorate at Devon County Council that they will lodge an objection with West
Dorset District Council about a proposed sports complex on the side of a hill
that directly faces into East Devon. “A clear case of cross-border
pollination!” says Joy. The fact that light pollution travels across boundaries
can cause problems, and can be an excuse for official inaction – unless we make
enough noise.
Location,
Location, Location
Parkstone Grammar School, Poole, installed CCTV recently, but one of the
associated lights glared into the eyes of drivers entering the school car park
at night. Bob Mizon pointed out the hazard to the head teacher, and the
light was safely relocated within 24 hours.
Heavenly artwork again available
Mature student Christine Wakelin of Eye, Cambs., is an amateur
astronomer, founder member of the Peterborough AS, and a CfDS supporter. Early
in 2002 she offered, as part of her B-TEC HND Fine Art course, to create a
painting for CfDS, with a view to raising funds for the campaign from the hire
of the work. See www.dark-skies.org for a reproduction.
The painting, entitled “In Your Dreams”, is again available for hire. Price
negotiable. Enquiries to Bob (address on
p. 4), please.
DARK SKIES
AROUND THE WORLD
Since
the last issue, new links have been forged with movements in Austria, Belgium,
Czech Republic.
Belgian “Nights of Darkness”
Friedel Pas, of the Flanders
Astronomical League, tells us of growing interest during the last few years in
their “Nights of Darkness”, during which Belgian towns agree to switch off some
or all lights to coincide with astronomical events. On November 8-9 2003, when
the Moon was eclipsed, 165 municipalities took part, some switching off all
council-run lights. 51 star parties were held in Flanders. Friedel reports that
these events have impressed the Flanders authorities, who agreed recently to
ban skybeams over the whole of the province.
Tomorrow’s
astronomers read about skyglow
In
the USA, IDA stalwart Bob Crelin (email: bcrelin AT rcn.com) has
written a children's book, “There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars” (Sky Publishing
Co.).This unique and lyrical bedtime story introduces children (and parents) to
the magic of the starry night skies, the dilemma of light pollution and what we
might do about it. Excellent illustrations by artist Amie Ziner have captured
the wonder and drama of the story (set amongst accurately-rendered stars and
constellations).
Each
purchase includes a donation to the International Dark Sky Association.
Information about the book is in: http://tinyurl.com/nliy
More
from ANPCN
The French Association
Nationale pour la Protection du Ciel Nocturne (ANPCN) says that it is
likely that the European Dark-Sky
Symposium 2004 will be in Lyon. Organiser Alain Legué is currently
setting the wheels in motion with Springer London publishers for the production
of a French translation of Bob Mizon’s book Light Pollution: Responses
and Remedies.
European
Amateur Astronomers' Congress, Nantes 2006 – early warning
The fifth European Meeting of
Amateur Astronomical Societies will take place in April 2006, at the Château de
la Plinguetière near Nantes, France. In 2003, around 200 participants from
France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, the UK and other European
countries attended. The two-day programme, interspersed with performances by
local musicians and the expected high standard of cuisine, includes informal
sessions by amateur astronomers, lectures by professionals, exhibitions, and
workshops. Proceedings are mainly in French, but English has equivalent status
for lectures. CfDS contributes regularly to the event with an exhibition, and a
seminar chaired jointly by Bob Mizon and Rennes astronomer Alain Le Gué, of the
ANPCN. Further details are available from conference organiser Daniel
Woehrling, president of the Astronomical Society of Nantes (S.A.N.). Contact
details: S.A.N., 35 Boulevard Louis Millet, 44300 Nantes, France. Tel:(0033) 02 40 68 91 20
Please contact Bob Mizon on 01202
887084 if you would like to join a UK party attending the conference. It is
always remarkably cheap for what you get!
CfDS Fighting Fund
You
may be aware that the funding for our activities comes essentially from two
sources, an annual grant made by the BAA Council and donations from our
supporters. At the CfDS committee meeting on October 11 it was decided that we
should invite supporters to contribute on a regular basis if they wish to do
so. This method has a number of benefits. Our income is better spaced, and we
can plan activities with more certainty, knowing the income will cover a
particular activity, such as leaflets and mailing costs (which can be quite
considerable). Also, it has been suggested that supporters would be more
willing to contribute a little amount but more often - such as monthly,
quarterly or annually.
To this end we provide details below to permit donors to set
up a standing order to the CfDS treasurer’s account. We would still appreciate
contact with Bob Mizon, in order to acknowledge donations in the newsletter. Standing orders to the CfDS fund can
be made via your bank to: sort code 09-00-00, a/c number 0005 0005,
K2922741CAM a/c name “Campaign for
dark Skies”
Why not have a collection for CfDS at your next
astronomy meeting? Recent contributors: John Douglas, Matt Dugas, James Hilder, Andrew
Huskinson, J.S. Smith, Raymond Smith, Ruth Stapleton, Jenny Tyndale, Meyrick
1997 Charitable Settlement, Cody AS, Homewood AS members, Wessex AS members,
Wilts AS members, Wolverhampton AS, FAS Convention delegates, S. Somerset
CPRE. Apologies to any donor inadvertently omitted.
Fighting fund donations may still be made to
Bob Mizon (address p.4), payable to ‘British Astronomical Assn (CfDS)’.
LIGHTING
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The
Government is studying the results of the recent DEFRA Consultation paper
“Living Places - Powers, Rights, Responsibilities”, one of the issues of which
was whether the Government should extend the statutory nuisance régime to
include external lighting. For a document dealing
with responses to the consultation, see http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/pubspace/pdf/living-places.pdf
15%
of respondents targeted the issue of nuisance lighting (Section F4 of the
paper), though the “lighting defeats crime” angle is still apparent. CfDS
continues to believe that crime is NOT a lighting problem, but a much
more complex societal issue.
Sorry to waste your time, Doctor…
Is Leicester
City Council the only local authority which, according to a correspondent, will
not shield invasive lights unless the victims present a doctor's letter to the
effect that it is damaging to their health?
Welcome in the vales
A success story from Llantrisant, where the
new Tesco store shed light along the valley from large windows. Information
from CfDS officer Joy Griffiths helped local people to approach
the company, which has a stated anti-light-pollution policy. Tesco installed
blinds and the hillsides are no longer illuminated.
CPRE Initiative: “Name
and Shame”
The Campaign to Protect Rural England,
which has done so much in 2003 to sensitise the public with its Night Blight
campaign, is asking for those aggrieved by waste light, whether it be light
trespass, skyglow or whatever, to contact www.cpre.org
and name the offender. The CPRE will publish lists of these, with a view to
reinforcing the joint CfDS/ CPRE approaches to ministries in the wake of the
Select Committee report.
Have you something for this newsletter?
If you have any items you
think will be suitable for the CfDS Newsletter, please send them to Bob Mizon,
details as below.
CfDS Editorial
Team
CfDS coordinator: Bob Mizon, 38 The
Vineries, Colehill, Wimborne BH21 2PX. e-mail http://www.mizar-astro.freeserve.co.uk/mailsend.htm
Newsletter team: Bob Mizon, Stuart Hawkins.
All items to Bob Mizon.
Campaign website: www.dark-skies.org maintained by Darren
Baskill and Mike Wheatley. Items to Bob
Mizon.
CfDS Newsletter printed and distributed by BAA
Headquarters, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0DU
The Editorial Team thanks Pat Barber and
Ann Davies for continuing support.
Support this twice-yearly newsletter
When your subscription expires,
please renew promptly. BAA members can do so via their annual Association
subscription form, or send £2.40, payable to ‘British Astronomical
Association’, for four issues to BAA, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London
W1J 0DU. Why not encourage other concerned people in your area/group
(including non-BAA members) to subscribe?