§ 3.16 p.m.
§ LORD VERNONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to provide standard lighting on all major trunk roads (other than motorways); and, if not, what criterion is used for deciding which roads should be provided with such lighting.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the present policy of the Department of the Environment is to light those lengths of trunk road which present special problems to drivers at night, and priority is given to those sections where lighting would result in the greatest reduction in accidents.
§ LORD VERNONMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord for that reply.
§ LORD VERNONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider a new type of lighting and lamp standard for use on trunk roads and road junctions in or near conservation areas or areas of outstanding natural beauty.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, in conservation areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty, special care is taken to ensure that lighting schemes are acceptable environmentally. The D.O.E. is always pleased to learn of new techniques and design for improving both the appearance and the efficiency of street lighting.
§ LORD VERNONYes, my Lords, bur the form of lighting which is adopted has 835 two serious defects. First, there is the excessive height of the lamp standards—
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I apologise for intervening, but I must remind my noble friend to put his supplementary remarks in the form of a question.
§ LORD VERNONMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the existing lamp standards have two defects: first, their excessive height and, second, the hideous orange glare which is thrown out by these lights, which makes it appear as though the entire countryside for miles around were on fire? Would my noble friend consider whether safety standards and the environment could not be better harmonised?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the point about height which the noble Lord has raised is related chiefly to the efficiency of the lighting. If it is in a built-up area, brackets can be attached to walls below the eaves of buildings. The Royal Fine Art Commission are always consulted by the Department in connection with lighting schemes. Local authorities are similarly consulted.
The yellow light to which the noble Lord refers is the one which is normally used because it is the easiest to run from the point of view of both economy and repair. If, however, this type of lighting is in an area where there are many pedestrians about, and they do not like the yellow light or think that it is not suitable to the area, there are other more expensive forms of white or blue light which can be, and sometimes are, used. The Department has an open mind on these matters.
§ LORD VERNONMy Lords, may I ask whether in conservation or near-conservation areas, and in the types of country that I have outlined, my noble friend would give consideration to using the more expensive mercury vapour type of lighting, as opposed to the sodium vapour lighting which is so ugly?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords. In places where it is thought to be appropriate we do use the high-pressure mercury vapour type of lighting which gives a bluish light.
§ LORD CROOKMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether there is not a third matter which does not seem to have been mentioned so far—namely, the safety of the types of lamp standard and the type of light which may well overcome many of the other difficulties to which the noble Lord referred?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord. Safety is the prime factor of concern. I am happy to be able to tell your Lordships that where we have made trunk road lighting improvements there has been a reduction in the accident rate of some 30 per cent.
§ VISCOUNT SIMONMy Lords, would the noble Lord also agree that when it is necessary to turn on the lights the beauty of the countryside is not visible anyway?