Leading countryside and environment organisations have joined with astronomers in calling on Southampton to scrap its plans for a permanent laser light show when the City Council’s Cabinet meets to decide on the project next week.

Incredibly, given the new regulations covering light pollution, it turns out that the government-funded South East England Development Agency has agreed to fund the project to the tune of £249,000.

UK criss-crossed by lurid laser beams

The Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Council for National Parks, the South Downs Society, the New Forest Association and the Campaign for Dark Skies are calling for the project to be dropped once and for all at the Cabinet’s Monday, 5 February meeting.

In a joint statement, they said:  “Shooting powerful laser lights miles into the surrounding countryside is a careless, misguided idea. It can only add to light pollution and the perception of energy waste, and far from enhancing Southampton’s status, it will turn the city into a bad neighbour.”

“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.”

“Most people want to see the moon and stars in the sky at night, not laser displays.”

The Council has said the beams, shining from the Civic Hall Clock Tower to the four points of the compass, will be visible from as far away as 15 miles. The lasers will cross the New Forest National Park, the Isle of Wight and the East Hampshire and Sussex Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  The beams would be turned on every night from dusk to midnight.

CPRE Hampshire’s planning group chairman, John Cooper said: “These beams would threaten the night skies of the city’s rural hinterland, the New Forest National Park and the designated South Downs National Park, as well as extensive stretches of countryside on the Isle of Wight and the tranquil waters of West Solent.”

William Ziegler, chairman of the New Forest Association said: “We are shocked by the total disregard that the Southampton City Council is apparently showing for its neighbours.  By law they have to have due regard of the fact that their action will undoubtedly affect a National Park.”

The five organisations would prefer the money to be spent on cutting light pollution, replacing lights which shine sideways and upwards into the night sky with efficient lighting which sends beams down to where they are needed. That way, Southampton would be enhancing nature’s very own light show – the stars, planets and moon across the night sky.