Friends of the Lake District welcomes the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee looking into the effects of artificial light on human health, along with the adequacy of existing framework to address potential harmful effects. To collect and scrutinise the scattered research out there will be helpful and, importantly, provide an update since the Royal Commission’s Environmental Report back in 2009.

Our Dark Skies Cumbria Project learning reveals a considerable amount of poor lighting practice with very little consideration of the wider ramifications of more and more artificial light continually being added into landscapes and public spaces. Cumbria County Council’s lighting team in contrast are demonstrating best practice by fully considering wider environmental considerations in the lighting design process and delivering dark skies and wildlife sensitive lighting projects across the county.

The call for evidence closed today 3 March and we look forward to the Committee’s forthcoming report, which will be useful to inform our future joint working with Defra on tackling light pollution.

Artificial light and noise inquiry launched - Committees - UK Parliament

Image: Light pollution from Ambleside, viewed from Wansfell Pike, by Ben Holmes