10:54am Friday 26th February 2010
Sir.–I would like to ask why Basingstoke council can’t do more to combat light pollution in Basingstoke? With everything we are being told about climate change etc, why is there the need for excessive amounts of lamp-posts.
I live in Hatch Warren and there is positively too many lamp-posts all over the estate.
You could easily knock out every other one and still the estate would be lit enough for people to see where they are going and not affect crime rates.
Is it very much a modern thing to over-light housing developments? If you look at housing estates built circa 30 years ago, there aren’t as many lamp-posts and their crime rates aren’t soaring.We, as householders, are constantly being told to turn off lights, recycle, go green etc. But what little we do at home to help the environment is being countered by the overuse of energy burning lamp-posts.I would happily like to meet with a councillor and walk round Hatch Warren to ask why there is a lamp-post needed every 20 steps.
If you say it’s for health and safety reasons, then I am sorry that isn’t a good enough reason.
Sure road entrances need to be lit – I agree with that – but there is a case of overlighting areas unnecessarily.
Surely the health and safety of all of us depends on us taking action against climate change and helping our planet.We need to reduce the amount of lamp-posts needlessy burning electric now!
–Name and address withheld
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/trade_directory/