We Need An Enlightened Decision On The Southampton Laser Gateway

19 June 2007

Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] are calling on the Southampton Partnership [2] to withdraw their support for a permanent laser show in the city [3]. Southampton City Council hopes to fire laser beams out from the city into surrounding countryside in an effort to improve its civic brand.

Emma Marrington, CPRE light pollution campaigner said: ‘It is understandable that Southampton should wish to improve its image but it should not be with such a misguided display of light pollution and wasteful use of energy.’

The Southampton Partnership Board is due to meet this Thursday (21 June) to decide whether the £249,000 Government sourced [4] funding for the project should be withdrawn or reserved until the results of planned trials are known [5].

CPRE, alongside other environmentalists and astronomers [6], has strongly opposed the installation of the laser equipment in the Civic Hall Clock Tower.

The lasers would shine permanently from dusk to dawn over a 15 mile radius in the four compass directions. They would be fired across the New Forest National Park, the north coast of the Isle of Wight and the East Hampshire and Sussex Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, not to mention the surrounding neighbourhoods.

John Cooper, CPRE Hampshire Planning Officer said: ‘Just imagine the effect if every town and city felt the need to do this sort of advertising. Our skies everywhere would be criss-crossed by lurid beams. By addressing the problem of light pollution, Southampton would be giving its people back the chance to enjoy the splendour of the stars, planets and moon across the night sky.’

CPRE recommends that the funding for the project should be spent on cutting light pollution instead, by replacing lights that shine sideways and upwards into the night sky with efficient lighting that sends beams where they are needed.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. The Southampton Partnership (SP) is a multi-sector/multi-organisation partnership, which has been established as the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) for the City of Southampton. Its broad role is to implement Southampton's Community Strategy, which sets out a shared vision for the future of the city, by promoting or improving economic, social and environmental well-being.

3. More information on the proposed laser installation can be found: http://www.southampton.gov.uk/news/NewsItem.asp?ID=3224&M=122006

4. The funding for the set up of the laser project has come from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and is being spent by Southampton City Council on behalf of the Southampton Partnership. This funding could not have been spent on council services but is being invested in Southampton Partnership’s long held commitment to improving the city's image and celebrating its heritage. Running costs would be about £10,000 a year and come from existing council budgets.

5. Southampton City Council’s cabinet decided on a series of trials, with an environmental assessment, at its meeting on Monday 5 February. The Environmental Impact Assessment will not be available until the autumn – after the trials. More information can be viewed: http://www.southampton.gov.uk/news/NewsItem.asp?ID=3250&M=12007

6. CPRE issued a joint press release with the Council for National Parks, Campaign for Dark Skies, South Downs Society and the New Forest Association on 30 January 2007 http://www.cpre.org.uk/news/view/358

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