For your info - New UK Legislation

** The law's in the dark **

Stargazers in urban areas often find their view of fainter objects hampered by a haze of light pollution.

Campaigners for darker skies gain some legal muscle on 6 April when the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 comes into force. It could be used to require floodlights to be switched off or adjusted, if they cause nearby residents a nuisance. Streetlights are exempt.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4878686.stm

If light pollution interests or concerns you, see if the BBC's Action Network site can help you improve your local environment.
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/C1884

c.f. www.irishastronomy.org/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1292

Al - I haven't seen the legislation, but according to the BBC site,

"[County Councils] will be able to enforce penalties for light pollution - problems caused by obtrusive outdoor lighting - of up to £5,000 for residents or £20,000 for businesses."

It doesn't mention anything about having to provide evidence of adverse health effects as referred to in your previous post. But I guess its only a short bulletin.

Given that the council can slap a fine on you for having your house alarm on for 20 minutes or if you repair a car on the roadway it seems that it would be no more tortuitous for them to do the same for obstrusive lighting...

It'll be interesting to see how councils apply the new law anyhow as regards light pollution. But since its now in force in the UK, there's a better chance it could migrate over here I would have thought.

We live in hope....

Cheers

Dave

"[County Councils] will be able to enforce penalties for light pollution - problems caused by obtrusive outdoor lighting - of up to £5,000 for residents or £20,000 for businesses."

It must be a 'statutory nuisance'. The CfDS list had quite a lot to say about it at the time; thats where I got most of my info from.

Its a start.

Cheers,
~Al

There was an article on this in Sky at Night Magazine, if anyone subscribes to it.

Issue 8 - January 2006, pages 33-35

I read that article also, it's a start, but I hope it's not too long before the Irish Government cops on !

Maybe this organisation could help also...

www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/main/index.php

Keith..