FOGS AND STREET LIGHTING. (Hansard, 4 November 1915)

§ LORD SYDENHAM

My Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government whether organised arrangements have been made to increase the illumination of the London thoroughfares in case of fogs. I trust that your Lordships will consider this matter of sufficient public importance to justify me in drawing attention to it. I think that all experience in London shows that traffic, whether pedestrian or vehicular, can only proceed, and proceed slowly, at such times as when from the light of one street lamp you can see, however faintly, the light of the next street lamp. From my own observation I believe that is a sound theory of the relation between traffic and fogs. In present conditions the distance between our street lamps is two or three times and in some cases four times as great as it used to be, and beyond that each street lamp as it is now veiled throws out only about one-quarter of the light it used to do. Further than that, in some thoroughfares at all events, in the early hours of the night great assistance used to be gained from the light of houses and shops which is now denied to us. This means that in fogs which are really very mild indeed we shall be in as dangerous a position as we should be in the very dense fogs which happily seldom occur now.

The other day we had a foretaste of this difficulty. The fog was not a bad one, but all traffic was held up and some danger to individuals occurred. If that were to occur on successive nights when a comparatively mild fog occurs, it is possible that the whole of the traffic of London may be held up with results which would be most serious. I need hardly say that even a moderate fog makes all searchlights and all guns for the defence of London become absolutely useless, and so it appears that 178 as far as Zeppelins are concerned nothing can be gained by keeping down the illumination of our streets. As regards the probability of raids in such circumstances, one would be reluctant to dogmatise. But I think we may say that if the fog area extended over London alone, leaving the approaches front the sea quite clear so that the Zeppelin commanders could pick up their leading marks as they now do raids might be attempted. On the other hand, if the fog were widespread I think there is a strong probability that no Zeppelin would attempt to come near London.

The point I wish to raise this evening, however, is whether we cannot protect ourselves against the dangers of the streets during nights when logs occur. I am sure it would be impossible to put up temporary lighting for all the streets of London, but I think it would be possible, by extemporised arrangements, to give light to the principal arteries on which the traffic of London depends. I hope it has been possible for the Government to make some organised arrangements to produce that result.

§ EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTON

Lords, I hope that the reply I am in a position to give the noble Lord will satisfy him that he was quite justified in raising this question, which is one of no small importance to the inhabitants of the metropolis. The possibility of occasional fogs has been borne in mind throughout the arrangements which have led up to the present reduction of street lighting, and precautions have been taken so far as the conditions permit so that the inconvenience may be reduced to a minimum. Even in normal times, however, it has never been found possible to provide satisfactory illumination of the streets on the occasion of dense fogs, and when, as at present, a considerable number of lamps must necessarily be shaded or obscured so that the illumination given is much below the normal it is feared that some inconvenience is inevitable.

The methods for dealing with the problem are limited by two important Considerations. It is necessary to bear in mind the probability of fog lifting suddenly and revealing any unshaded lights which have been in use as a temporary expedient, and also that the distribution of fog is frequently very erratic and may affect one area considerably while leaving ad joining areas practically untouched. For 179 these reasons it is necessary that the arrangements for dealing with fog should operate locally rather than by the application of any system on an extensive scale, and the emergency lighting arrangements must be such that they can be promptly brought into use and extinguished immediately on the fog clearing. The arrangements are further complicated by the diversity of methods of illumination adopted in different parts of the London area.

The Order made by the Secretary of State under Regulation 11 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, which was in force previously to the present month, provided that "while thick fog prevails the normal lighting of the streets may be resumed." This provision is omitted in the present Order, but the effect of it is retained by paragraph 1 of this Order, which empowers the Commissioner of Police to give any necessary instructions for this purpose.

The following are the principal measures adopted for dealing with this problem. The lighting of the side streets is being increased by bringing more lamps into general use so far as this can be done 180 consistently with the general scheme of reduced lighting in the London area, and in some parts of London the number of lamps in use every night will now approximate to three-quarters of the normal, though the lamps in use, being shaded, have not of course their full normal illuminating effect. A number of lamps which are not in use on clear nights will be lit in case of fog where the system of lighting and other conditions render this practicable. In the main traffic routes the most useful method is probably the provision of flare lamps at the more important points, and where possible the use of additional high power street lamps while the fog prevails. The provision of flares is believed to be far the more effective expedient. The Commissioner of Police has urged all the local authorities to make provision for bringing flare lamps into use at all the more important points, and he reports that on the occasion of the recent fog it was found that all the borough councils in the more important areas of London bad flare lamps in use.