§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued to highway authorities about light pollution resulting from road lighting. [131235]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Lighting Board of the Roads Liaison Group (which brings together representatives from national and local highway authorities across the UK) is producing a revised Code of Good Practice for Street Lighting. This will include advice on reducing light pollution. In the meantime, other guidance issued previously remains applicable.
1064WThe Department of Transport published "Road Lighting and the Environment" in 1993 which gave advice on good street lighting practice to reduce sky glow and light pollution generally.
The Department also contributed to "Lighting in the Countryside: Towards good practice", which was commissioned by the Department of the Environment (now Office of the Deputy Prime Minister). The document provides guidance to local authorities, highway planners and engineers and members of the public. It demonstrates what can be done to lessen the adverse effects of external lighting, including street lighting. The advice is applicable in towns as well as the countryside.