Light Pollution

Living in Kerry, most of our members have fairly dark skies but we must not become complacent. Our towns are rapidly expanding and little regard is being given to light pollution and it's negative effects on the environment and the night sky.

The Kerry County Development Plan, 2003, has a section on Light Pollution in which it states its objective to "minimise light pollution". Requiring that "details of any external lighting scheme intended as part of any new development shall be submitted as part of the planning application. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that the lighting scheme proposed is the minimum needed for security and working purposes" This makes Kerry County Council one of the first, if not the first, to have seriously considered the negative effects of light pollution and done something about it. Congratulations to all involved. Lets hope that they get the support to enforce it.

However the Tralee development plan has totally ignored this form of pollution and even encourages the inclusion "decorative flood lighting" to be considered for inclusion in the plans for any significant development in the town!

While most of the rest of Europe has started the process of replacing inefficient, poorly directed and polluting street light fittings, we are still not requiring the specification of 'Full Cut-Off' lights for outside, street and road lighting. Tralee now has a level of light pollution similar to that of Cork and Limerick, both much larger towns! Below is a map showing the distribution of polluted skies in South-west Munster derived from satellite images.