LEDphobic

In December 2021 councillor Maggie Browning disclosed to me that traffic for underhill road had increased significantly: ‘ Council officers let me know that the monitoring of traffic on Underhill Road has gone up by 6% (Sept 2021 figures) and had been compared to traffic monitoring that was done in April 2017. I appreciate this is a few years ago but it is from the pre-pandemic period, so seems like a good comparison to use. More traffic monitoring on Underhill Road will take place in April, June and September 2022. I have written to her subsequently, on multiple occasions, requesting the figures from this proposed monitoring but I have received no response . I’m just disappointed.

I used Peter?s company today and I cannot recommend them enough. Peter is so lovely, efficient and took such good care of my things. He provided a really good value service.

Hi we live on Underhill too. I messaged Thames water last night and have rung this morning as well. They responded to one leak yesterday and it was resolved but there is now a larger burst pipe in woodvale. They couldn?t say when, but they are sending engineers out.

As we are now in the unfortunate position of having a many fold increase in the volume of traffic on our road since these measures have been introduced and my blind partner can no longer safely act independently and cross his own road the talk of occasional frustration is a little galling. For many of us these changes have been so much more - At the end of our road there is a residential complex for the visually impaired. They won?t have a voice on this forum and their lives will be negatively effected too, and what about the elderly residents in the nursing home further down which is situated close to the road. They don?t appear to have been considered in these decisions, and of course none of these people are contributing to the pollution or noise since they don?t drive. This is not an argument against reducing traffic, it?s an argument against measures which are unjust and discriminatory, and it shouldn?t be acceptable for some to benefit from this while others life?s are blighted. Surely the bigger picture has to include caring equally for all Southwark residents.

The photo was taken earlier in the week so presumably not related to gas works at the main junction of Forest Hill. This is our new daily normal and it isn?t justifiable.

Our lives in Underhill Road have become blighted by excess traffic as drivers try to escape the lights at the junction between the south circular and lordship lane following the closure of Court Lane. We have lived here for many years and have never experienced anything like this. We are not young and unfortunately my partner has significant disabilities, we don?t own a car and so we can?t be accused of being in the pro-cars lobby, and we physically cannot get on a bike, but we used to at least feel safe walking on our streets - it is now just a cacophony of noise, honking horns, aggressive drivers and pollution from early in the morning until late into the evening. So although I understand why people are pleased at being able to enjoy their bike rides and traffic free roads, it has come at a huge price for others. We are not all young and able bodied and the displacement of traffic onto our road is so much more than an inconvenience. This whole exercise is proving to be divisive, inequitable and discriminatory. Everyone wants the same outcome; fewer cars, a cleaner environment and a safer place to live and work, but it cannot be achieved in this manner which is socially unjust.

Until now I have never made a complaint to Southwark council and I have lived here for 25 years. I don?t believe the supposed security offered by an over light residential street at night, or the argument that the few cars on our street at night need brighter driving conditions is justified given the impact these harsh, physiologically and ecologically damaging lights will and are having. I have had an email from Southwark?s light engineer, he is responsible for the new lights. I quote ?the perception is that white light (3k) in this installation gives an appearance of being a lot brighter?. I think if it appears brighter, it is experienced as brighter, it therefore is brighter. 3000 kelvins is a bright white light. He is scouting our streets on the 20th and so if you haven?t written yet try to do so before he comes as he has to look at all complaints.

Contact [email protected]. I also contacted [email protected] as she is my councillor. She referred the query back to street lighting and [email protected]. Richard is a cabinet member for the environment, but he has not responded. This is the guidance they use: https://www.theilp.org.uk/documents/obtrusive-light/guidance-notes-light-pollution-2011.pdf. It is unsurprisingly complex to measure obtrusive light and is not just about Lux?s, but as the ILP says ? Remember, lighting is there for a purpose and it is the residents who have to live with it?. I think they have forgotten this. I sympathise with Southwark struggle with having to manage huge cut backs and respect their drive to reduce co2 emissions, but they have done it so badly. It?s a win win if they reduce the luminaries as they also make more savings.

Yes complain. I was told today that their lead light engineer is due to carry out a night scout of the area on the 20th of Feb. He/she is obliged to look at every complaint and measure for obtrusive light on your property. The more people who make a fuss hopefully something will be done. Southwark are saying they are following guidelines and good practices as set out by the institution of lighting professionals (iLP). However, the ILP recommends providing an adequate shield, replacing the light fitting or varying the light levels if a complaint is received. They also suggest adopting a light ?curfew? which means turning the lights down after 23:00. Southwark is clearly not following these guidelines.

Here is a good article about how damaging the street lamps are to insects: https://luxreview.com/article/2018/06/light-pollution-linked-to-decline-in-insects. I just feel so sad. It feels like a madness - on the one hand we are informed we are facing a catastrophic threat to our global biodiversity and then our local authority implements policies to speed up the decline. We are told to remove our tablets and phones from our and our children?s rooms as the blue lights disrupt sleep but now that very same light is streamed though our windows. Yes you can buy blackout blinds but I want dark skies and a right to night.

In studies where councils have turned street lamps off or dimmed them considerably between the hours of midnight and 5 AM there has been no corresponding increase in crime. There is however evidence that these excessively bright lights can do damage to our sleep patterns and our wildlife. Apart from no longer being able to sleep in my own bedroom since the lamps were installed, walking up Underhill road at night is now like being under prison spotlights. They are causing light pollution and the only thing we can do and keep doing is bombard the council with complaints.

I live on Underhill road and have not been able to sleep in my bedroom since the new streetlights were fitted at the beginning of January. I sleep on my sons floor in the back of our house. I have complained to Southwark and I have written to my councillors and Helen Hayes. I?m still waiting for Southwark to respond. The argument made for the switchover is that the lights will reduce CO2 emissions which is true, but it is equally true that the light heads are angled incorrectly so as to emit excessive glare and light trespass, they are too bright turning night into day, they disrupt bird and insect behaviour, and they interfere with our own circadian rhythm. To preserve our wildlife and our right to night the council could replace the harsh white bulbs with warmer bulbs and significantly dim the lights between midnight and five AM which would protect everyone?s interests.