Campaigners fear lamps will 'destroy night sky'
BBCInstalling street lighting along a stretch of road popular for viewing the Northern Lights would "destroy the night sky", campaigners have warned.
South Tyneside Council approved plans on Thursday to place lamp-posts along the coast road in South Shields, in order to improve safety along what is a National Cycle Network route.
Campaigner Dave Dixon said he was "embarrassed and ashamed" by the decision, adding the council had ignored the concerns of residents living near the Leas Nature Reserve.
Ernest Gibson, lead councillor for neighbourhoods and climate change, said the decision "balances the need for public safety with our responsibility to protect the natural environment".
The approved plans would see 10m-high (32.8ft) lamp-posts installed on the west side of the road, with "dark-sky compliant lanterns to minimise visual and ecological impact", the local authority said.
The lighting would be dimmed during the evening to reduce energy use and light spill.
Campaigners previously told the BBC the lights would damage wildlife and cause light pollution.
Mr Gibson said the route was a "vital link for cyclists and pedestrians", adding the "improved lighting will make it safer and more accessible".
The decision was informed by a Road Safety Audit which identified clear risks in the absence of street lighting, the council said.
The authority said lighting impact, ecological and habit regulation assessments were all undertaken to address concerns raised by residents.
Campaigners strongly disputed that and said the council had ignored their concerns.
Malcolm Porter, campaigner, told BBC Look North: "We are really angry that the council has paid lip service to listening to us but they haven't actually done anything about it.
"They are going to put lights up that will fuel light pollution all over the Leas and harm the wildlife and they say it is on road safety grounds but there aren't any serious accidents here, the traffic is relatively slow at 30mph."
The decision has hit residents that live along the road particularly hard.
Kim Driver, campaigner, said: "The feedback I am getting is unbelievable, absolute devastation.
"The houses are going to all be lit up, the council think they had a battle on for the last year, trust me this is only the start of the next campaign, we will take it as far as we can."