When did you last see the Milky Way? The chances are that, if you live in Cambridgeshire, the answer is that you probably won’t have seen it since the last power cut. Data from US Air Force weather satellites show the huge extent of light pollution in Cambridgeshire which has grown substantially in just 10 years.

Between 1993 and 2000 light pollution increased by 29% in Cambridgeshire. There are now absolutely no truly dark skies left in the whole county. A mere 7% of the county has fairly dark skies, and this is in decline. A glance at a sky-glow map of Europe shows how widespread the problem is. It is imperative that we act now before the situation becomes any worse. Consequently, a national campaign has been launched by CPRE to highlight the problems and to suggest solutions.

In CPRE Cambridgeshire we will be draw people’s attention to the facts and to what can be done to combat this growing problem. Click here for our press release marking the launch of this campaign.

Careless use of electric light outdoors can causes a sky glow, visible for many miles around, which blanks out the stars almost completely. The argument is often made that such lighting is necessary for security reasons. But the glow in the sky shows how much of the light is actually not targetted at the ground, nor the buildings it is meant to be illuminating. By using better directed lights, which already exist and are in use in some locations already, we could reduce this upward spill and turn off the glow. Not only that, but it would save money all round and reduce the huge waste of electricity which contributes to climate change.

CPRE is calling for lights to be better directed downwards, so light does not spill out unnecessarily, and to think about the need for all the lights around. They are also calling for government to measure the extent of night pollution and develop policies to prevent it from worsening.

If you would like a leaflet, please e-mail cambsbranch@cpreeast.fsnet.co.uk.

Please also e-mail us with examples you have seen of light pollution and badly designed lighting in your local area.

Go back to CPRE Cambs Home Page

Page last modified on 16 August 2003