§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he proposes to deal with the problem of sky glow from street lighting. [59498]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThere are no statutory controls on street lighting and we have no plans to introduce any at this stage. Street lighting is the responsibility of the highway authority concerned.
Good design, installation and maintenance practices can do much to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of street lighting. My Department has issued advice on this subject in "Road Lighting and the Environment" and, with the Countryside Commission, has published a guide "Lighting in the Countryside: Towards Good Practice". Both of these refer to ways of reducing light pollution and sky glow. Much of the advice contained in the latter document is equally applicable in urban areas.