Unwanted Lampposts

[MdB]

We have just been informed by our neighbour that our village (20ish houses) has just gained two new lampposts. None of the neighbours appears to be keen on them and most are rather upset. Extra lighting in the village isn't required (as far as we are concerned) and it just seems a waste of money and energy.

There is a council meeting tonight which various people will be going to, hopefully to get things changed. Is there anything else that can be done? At least one of the lamps appears to have been placed on private property so I guess this can be challenged.

 

[Nemesis]

You could contact the CPRE for support...

 

[Nemesis]

http://www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/landscape/light-pollution

 

[MdB]

http://www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/landscape/light-pollution

Thanks for that, will send them an email.

It turns out that one person in the village requested that a speed limit was applied as her car had been clipped by possibly speeding cars a couple of times. This request led to the council installing street lighting as they believe it is required before a 30 limit can be applied. (this statement is being checked with a friend at the moment that knows a lot about these things.) The two lamp posts that turned up today both have been placed on land owned by the closest house, both are within a conservation area and one is within the curtilage of a listed building.

All this gives us some good ammunition for getting the lights removed.

 

[vicky whitworth]

It's unbelievable what public bodies think is a good idea. I have just noticed that our tiny village with winding narrow lanes has been marked up to have road markings painted to show there is a bend ahead - slow down. What's the point? If you are the sort of person who speeds through a village you'll carry on speeding regardless of signage. I think there is even evidence now that signage causes more accidents as it makes people complacent. It also trashes the rural environment. Do all these people want the whole country to turn into one sprawling urban area? Do they have no soul?

 

[shelli]

which reminds me of the old chestnut

Driving examiner asks pupil what sort of a sign you might expect to see on a country road

"free range eggs for sale? " replies pupil

 

[MdB]

"free range eggs for sale? "

I wish I was at home at the moment as I would take a picture of the "eggs for sale" sign right in the middle of the village by the double bend which forces people down to 20mph max. They do some lovely duck eggs.

After an apparently lively council meeting, the extra lamp posts are going to be removed. The long term solution is being consulted on so hopefully a consensus will be found. What has been highlighted is that the current lampposts and the speed limits are not signed properly so something will have to change.

 

[Flyfisher]

I think there is even evidence now that signage causes more accidents as it makes people complacent.

I recall reading about a traffic experiment in Europe somewhere (possibly Scandinavia somewhere) where they removed all road signs and created a mixed pedestrian/vehicle area. Apparently the average speed and accident rates plummeted because motorists had no clearly defined rights of way and therefore had to take much more care. But that was in a city and might be less effective in rural areas. I also recall reading about accident rates increasing after seat belts were made compulsory - again the complacency argument; people adjust their behaviour up to a certain level of perceived risk. Hence the old joke about banning seatbelts and putting a big spike in the centre of the steering wheel - that would focus people on driving carefully!

 

[skier-hughes]

Haven't they in some areas of this country, and in the country, removed the white lines from the middle of the road, which makes cars drive slower, as the perception is the road is narrow and therefore needs more care?