Hopes York could become first UK 'dark sky city'

Experts hope York could become the UK's first "dark sky city" as part of a global movement to combat light pollution.

York St John University academics joined astronomers on Tuesday to discuss how methods including the use of warmer, directional street lighting can have an impact in urban areas.

The nearby North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales have been designated Dark Sky Reserves since 2020, meaning light pollution is particularly low, but the UK is yet to have a city with dark sky status.

Dr Jen Hall, from the university, said: "We believe York has the potential, knowledge and impetus to be the first.

"By coming together, we can protect our night skies for future generations and make York a model for responsible lighting in cities across the UK."

Techniques put forward to reduce light pollution include using warm white LED lighting, switching lights off at times they're not required and changing angles to ensure lights point down towards the ground.

The university said it had introduced several of these measures on its main campus, with hopes the project could widen across York.

Dr Hall, associate professor of tourism and events, told BBC Radio York it would be a "huge challenge, but not an insurmountable one".

Mike Hawtin, dark skies conservation lead at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said reducing light pollution was key for protecting nocturnal biodiversity and the environment more broadly.

"Light pollution is easy to fix, it saves us money and reduces carbon emissions," he said.

"The discussion is never ever about banning the light we all need for a wide range of reasons - it's about sensitive, responsible use, to light only what we need, only when we need it and at a level suitable to that need."

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