Dark Skies

The South East of England is the most densely populated and fast-growing region of the UK, so it’s not surprising that its the most light-polluted area of the whole country. 91% of Greater London is light-saturated. The few square kilometres of truly dark land are found in pockets scattered across several counties and some distance from London, including the southern coast of the Isle of Wight.

Our region has smallest proportion of its total land area within the truly dark category – just 1%. Data shows that light pollution is a major problem and one that is growing.

It’s not just that starry skies are wonderful to see. Light pollution is bad for your health! It can upset natural sleeping rhythms causing irritability and insomnia. It can increase headaches and cause anxiety. And it’s not just human beings that are affected. Many organisms need the natural rhythms of light and dark for breeding, migration and feeding – light pollution can adversely affect whole eco-systems.

And it wastes energy, and therefore precious natural resources. Turn the lights off!

Tackling light nuisance

Intrusive lighting can now be dealt with under a new criminal offence. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act classifies light pollution as a statutory offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

However, the new powers are limited. It deals with light nuisance, such as a neighbour’s security light shining into your window, but not the light pollution that brightens the skies of Oxfordshire and obscures the stars. Street lights are excluded from prosecution under the Act, as are goods depots, bus and rail stations and airports. And that’s a shame.

In many of Oxfordshire’s villages, security lights from small industrial or business units, blazing all night can completely change the atmosphere of a community and not for the better!