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Night Blight: Mapping England's Light Pollution and Dark Skies

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Night Blight: Mapping England's Light Pollution and Dark Skies Click to enter Night Blight: Mapping England’s light pollution and dark skies Previous Next Night Blight: Mapping England’s light pollution and dark skies “ All generations and cultures have looked up and wondered at the stars. But sadly this part of our shared environment has been degraded. Unless they live in remote rural areas, young people may grow up without ever seeing a truly dark starry sky – and that’s a real deprivation.” Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal Brighton at dusk, East Sussex Contents Summary 2 Introduction 4 How the maps were created 6 What the maps show: 8 Across Great Britain 8 Light pollution from the Strategic Road Network 8 A picture of the English regions 8 What’s the story in the counties? 9 How districts influence lighting in a local area 11 National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – holding guard against light pollution 13 National Character Areas – light and landscape character 14 Conclusion and recommendations 15 Semerwater, North Yorkshire Night Blight: Mapping England’s light pollution and dark skies 1 Previous Next Contents Summary We can now present the most accurate ever picture of how much light is spilling up into Britain’s night skies. he Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has ●● Almost half (47%) of the very darkest skies in England long fought for the protection and improvement of have no national protection.2 The other half (53%) of dark skies, and against the spread of unnecessary our darkest skies are in National Parks and Areas of artificial light. Having last published a major mapping Outstanding Natural Beauty, demonstrating the vital Tproject on light pollution and dark skies in 2003 (based on data role these places play in protecting and enhancing our from 1993 and 2000), CPRE commissioned LUC to create new experience of the countryside. 1 maps of Great Britain’s light pollution and dark skies. Using ●● There is significant light pollution from motorways and data captured by a satellite at 1.30 am throughout September trunk roads. 2015, the latest technology has been used to give an accurate ●● There is substantial light pollution from some business picture of how much light is spilling up into the night sky and districts such as the City of London, and facilities such as show where urgent action is needed. We also sought to find Leicester football stadium, that are not in use at 1.30 am. where the darkest skies are so that they can be protected and improved. ●● The South West (67%) and North East (65%) regions of Detailed interactive maps have been created for England England have the highest proportion of their area in the showing districts, counties, National Parks and Areas of two darkest categories. The brightest region is London. Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and, at a wider scale, ●● Based on average light levels across the county, National Character Areas. Besides these, there are high-level Herefordshire is England’s darkest county, yet maps available for Scotland and Wales, so that we can now Northumberland has the highest proportion of pristine present the most accurate ever picture of how much light is dark skies at 72% to Herefordshire’s 60%. Both counties spilling up into Britain’s night sky. are taking steps to improve street lighting and reduce light pollution. The brightest counties based on average The key findings from our analysis of the light levels are West and South Yorkshire, followed by mapping are: Berkshire and Cheshire. ●● Only 22% of England has pristine night skies, which we consider as completely free of light pollution. When the two darkest categories are combined, almost half of England has what most of us regard as dark skies. Yet light pollution continues to spread into the countryside from towns and cities, damaging the character of rural areas. Woodingdean, on the edge of Brighton, East Sussex 1 Due to improvements in the technology used and accuracy of the maps, this new data is not directly comparable with our earlier maps. This report presents the evidence from this new data and our analysis of it. It does not contain comparisons with previous data. 2 This figure is for the darkest category only, colour band 1. 2 Night Blight: Mapping England’s light pollution and dark skies Only 22% of England has Northumberland has the pristine night skies highest proportion of pristine dark skies at 72% Based on what these maps show, CPRE recommends: Government ●● local highway authorities should develop a Street Lighting Policy, which could include Environmental ●● should ensure that local authorities are implementing Government policy to control light pollution, as set out Lighting Zones to ensure that appropriate lighting is in the National Planning Policy Framework and associated used in each area. guidance. In the absence of resources for the relevant Highways England departments (Defra and DCLG3) to pursue rigorous monitoring, we call on Ministers to issue a clear statement ●● should use the maps to identify sections of motorways that local authorities should take action to control light and trunk roads that need urgent attention to reduce pollution and protect dark skies in their areas. light pollution. Any new lighting should be well designed and be the minimum required to meet its purpose. Local authorities ●● should use the opportunity of the review of the Design ●● should develop policies to control light pollution in Manual for Roads and Bridges to specify ambitious local plans which will ensure that existing dark skies performance-based standards for lighting that are protected, and that new developments do not minimise light pollution. increase local light pollution.4 Our maps can be used as evidence to inform decisions on local planning applications. Businesses and large facility owners ●● local highway authorities should identify areas with ●● should review their existing lighting and ensure severe light pollution and target action to reduce it, new developments do not cause light pollution. such as investing in dimming technology, running Dimming and switching off lights would also save money. part-night lighting schemes (in consultation with the Larger facilities that create light pollution can be local community) or replacing street lighting with less identified on the maps. light polluting types. Our maps can also be used to A complete list of recommendations is on page 15. identify existing dark skies that need to be protected and enhanced, such as the large tracts of dark skies in Herefordshire, Devon and Yorkshire. Hexham, Northumberland 3 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Department for Communities and Local Government. 4 Examples of effective policies can be found in CPRE (2014) Shedding Light: a survey of local authority approaches to lighting in England http://www.cpre.org.uk/resources/countryside/ dark-skies/item/3608-shedding-light Night Blight: Mapping England’s light pollution and dark skies 3 Previous Next Contents Introduction Our view of the stars – a source of infinite amazement for scientists, casual observers and the millions of us that seek out rural places to rest and recuperate – is obscured by light pollution. t’s a sad fact that many children will grow up never seeing Apart from the impact on people’s experience of the the Milky Way, our own galaxy, because of the impact countryside, there is an increasing awareness of the effect of artificial light. CPRE has campaigned against light that light pollution can have on wildlife, by interrupting pollution for many years. We believe that darkness at natural rhythms including migration, reproduction and Inight is one of the key characteristics of rural areas and is an feeding patterns.5 A 2010 survey by CPRE found that light important feature that differentiates them from urban areas. pollution can cause a great deal of distress to humans too, But light can spread for miles from the source; blurring the including disrupted sleep, and in some cases has driven people distinction between town and country. to move house.6 Studies suggest that exposure to light at Light pollution is a generic term referring to artificial light night can disrupt the body’s production of melatonin, a brain that shines where it is neither wanted nor needed. In broad hormone best known for its daily role in resetting the body’s terms, there are three types of light pollution: biological clock.7 ●● skyglow – the pink or orange glow we see for miles around Light spilling up into the night sky is also a waste of money towns and cities, spreading deep into the countryside, and energy: local councils were estimated to spend £613 8 caused by a scattering of artificial light by airborne dust million on street lighting in 2014-15 – and the lights can and water droplets account for between 15-30% of a council’s carbon emissions. Advances in lighting technology mean that upward light ●● glare – the uncomfortable brightness of a light source pollution can be minimised without compromising road ●● light intrusion – light spilling beyond the boundary of the safety or increasing crime.9 Advice is available on good property on which a light is located, sometimes shining design and installation of lighting to reduce light pollution through windows and curtains from various sources. These are listed on our website: nightblight.cpre.org.uk. Salcombe skyglow 5 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2009) Artificial Light in the Environment https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/228832/9780108508547.pdf.pdf 6 CPRE (2010) Lighting Nuisance survey http://www.cpre.org.uk/resources/countryside/dark-skies/item/1974-lighting-nuisance-survey-2009-10-report 7 British Astronomical Association’s Commission for Dark Skies Blinded by the Light? A handbook on light pollution Chapter 4 ‘Light pollution and human health’ Steven W Lockley Ph.D.
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