§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to introduce anti-light-pollution legislation; and if she will make a statement. [72095]
§ Mr. MeacherLight is excluded from the statutory nuisance regime of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. During the debate of the associated bill in the House of Lords, floodlighting as a statutory nuisance was rejected on the basis of the low incidence of reported problems, and the perceived looseness of the proposed term "floodlighting". However I recognise that intrusion from security lighting has become a growing problem, and in view of this I will consider what measures may be used to address this issue.
Currently where there is a proposal for which a planning application is required, the local planning authority has the power to control many sorts of lighting installation by imposing planning conditions. In this situation, the authority can refuse permission, or grant permission with conditions which could specify in detail what sort of external light installations would be allowed. 286W In any other circumstances, since the courts have ruled that emitting light does not of itself constitute development, the matter is outside planning controls.
I understand that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to amend planning legislation in this area. Instead, this Government continues to publicise and to recommend the advice given in "Lighting in the Countryside: Towards good practice", which is available on our website at: http://www.planning. odpm.gov.uk/litc/index.htm This publication, which is also relevant to those in towns and cities, indicates a way forward which we believe is preferable to further regulation.