Forum Topic

Petition Launched Against LED Ad Screens on Metropolitan Open Land

This article is published on the front page of PutneySW15.I wholeheartedly agree with the objections stated in the article.  On environmental grounds, those shiny screens affect wildlife in Barnes Common as well as increasing light pollution in the area unnecessarily.Also, with the energy crisis, these strong lights do not make sense!Petition signed!

Ivonne Holliday ● 884d24 Comments

""Are your posts deliberately worded in an irritating way?"""Always."Perhaps you could find a novel ploy?

David Ainsworth ● 882d

And yet the lights (and music) do not seem to be an issue for wildlife at Kew, Wetlands or other venues that run winter lighting events using Led & lasers even.I had a quick look and didn't see anything special mentioned about lighting  concerning the housing development opposite the common. Not to mention the paths that have lamp post lighting on the common, the station and platform lighting. Plus the other developments next to the common. I assume the car part for the flats that were built where the Red Rover (Railway Hotel) used to be also has lighting.I shall have to go and see when it's not raining but the common is not void of lighting either in it or adjacent it.

Ed Robinson ● 882d

You do not disappoint Barbara.Both are horrific!!!  The main difference is that the floodlights are not on all the time, which the screens are.

Ivonne Holliday ● 883d

Ivonne, sorry to disappoint you but if you had drove past an hour ago the lights high up over Rosslyn Rugby Ground were so bright it was unbelievable. Much worse than those signs.

Barbara Stevens ● 883d

Hello Barbara,I do not deny that there should be light along those dark roads.  But the screens are not there to provide light, they are there to advertise.For one, if you have noticed, most street lamps face downwards, there may be two or three of them depending on the length of the pavement.  As the street lamps face downwards, no light goes up and they do have a perimeter they illuminate - very much as our - better said - the human eye's field of vision.  Neither do they illuminate the area as if they were the sun!

Ivonne Holliday ● 883d

Ivonne, my point was it used to be extremely dark in that area, as I know it well. Even the old Roehampton Swimming Pool at the end of Priory Lane. All along from The Lennox years ago used to be a long fence, not flats and houses. It was the land from the Priory, with cows etc.  I prefer some light, one of the signs is near a bus stop and faces also  to the other side of the road where there is another bus stop backing onto Barnes Common. How a friend of mine used to walk from Barnes Station along the path to Vine Rd I don't know at 17yrs. Not for me. Also there are 2 schools in Sheen and my son often walked that way home to Putney. I think there should be light near commons.

Barbara Stevens ● 883d

Er, no, rather a silly point and I've no idea where you conjured it from. I was simply trying to say that massive LED screens was not the best solution to the need for adequate pathway lighting.

Richard Carter ● 883d

Barbara, a mobile phone gives that information also!!!

Ivonne Holliday ● 883d

I totally agree with you Richard.And they are installed in a Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) which has the same protections as the Green Belt.

Ivonne Holliday ● 883d

Correct Ed, wildlife does not know the difference between a light source.However, wildlife recognize day and night, and these lights are so bright that wildlife believe it is daylight.These lights have a distinct influence on nocturnal animals, particularly in winter when the nights are so long.....

Ivonne Holliday ● 883d

"It's the inconsistency that gets me."Life is not consistent. Nor can it ever be.

David Ainsworth ● 883d

:)I think what Richard is trying to say it is OK to lump related issues together when objecting to something but not when agreeing with it.It's the inconsistency that gets me.

Ed Robinson ● 883d

"I'm also concerned about the effects on wildlife"Michael yes so am I.But wildlife can't tell the difference between a light source used for advertising and one used for entertainment.If people are concerned about wildlife and Led lighting it really can't just be applied to advertising.As for the distraction - isn't that the whole idea of advertising?Should we just ban advertising on private property next to highways?I went past there the other day and didn't notice it. I did get distracted by the dumped green wooden / cast iron bench - the kind that used to be found at railway stations etc. I will look later.

Ed Robinson ● 883d

They also tell you the time and the temperature, if you take them away I won't know how hot I am.

Barbara Stevens ● 883d

I've also signed the petition; the argument that good lighting is needed for people's safety is a completely separate issue, one that should be dealt with by the provision of proper street lighting, not these huge, intrusive and distracting commercial displays.

Richard Carter ● 883d

Ed. In my personal opinion the work done by organisations such as CfDS is more effective than petitions but I take the view if someone sets up a petition broadly in line with something I support there's no harm in signing it. My post was a response to a question you posed about my concern regarding dark skies. Yes, my priority is astronomy and astrophysics but I'm also concerned about the effects on wildlife and humans of excessive lighting. There are also road safety concerns about these large LED adverts.One tends to prioritise around one's interests although taking a broader perspective is, I'd agree, better. However, being pragmatic and focusing on one aspect (for example, astronomy) is sometimes a motivation to actually get something done! That can lead to inconsistencies but is perhaps better than nothing getting done?

Michael Ixer ● 883d

Sorry, I think the bright lights should stay, especially along that part of the road by Rosslyn Park and the common.Never mind about the birds, the common is vast and goes right across to Barnes Pond. Especially for women or youngsters having to walk past the common. I know as I come from that area of White Hart Lane. I've had a young man come up to me a few years ago, when it was dark, when I was coming back from work and it's not funny. I'm glad I never went to the bus stop by the common, I walked so fast up to Dover House Rd.

Barbara Stevens ● 883d

"Are your posts deliberately worded in an irritating way?"Always. It's the inconsistency that I struggle to cope with.Or perhaps I'm just hoping it's extended to cover Kew & Wetland lighting events that will save me a few bob and cold feet each year - Humbug ;)

Ed Robinson ● 883d

Ed. You obviously didn't read my post, my cynical view means I don't think that's the best way to do it. Mr Mizon and the CfDS do a lot of very good work in this area - working working with industry, councils,  etc - to reduce the negative effects of lighting and improve its effectiveness - and I did assist those getting the excessive lighting reduces at the school located at the old Putney hospital. Are your posts deliberately worded in an irritating way? :-)

Michael Ixer ● 883d

Michael,I assume you will be setting up a petition to cease the various illuminations around Putney, including Putney Bridge and St Mary's etc?These are not even generating revenue and are adding to astronomy/astrophysics pollution. Or are they different?

Ed Robinson ● 883d

Ed. Those of us interested in astronomy/astrophysics worry about light pollution. That doesn't mean the signs aren't tacky as well. 

Michael Ixer ● 883d

On the plus side the diesel powered led panels on the sides of the 22 bus that park on Putney Common appear to have been removed.I have not signed yet, I need to have a closer look next time I pass it to see if it is impacting the common and also see where the money goes. I do not recall them pointing towards the common.Also is the revenue being used to subsidise sports for the local community?It would be a lot simpler if I hadn't gone to Christmas at Kew most years. Is it really the light pollution people are concerned with or just the tacky appearance??

Ed Robinson ● 883d

Agreed, signed; Bob Mizon of the Commission for Dark Skies would approve. However, I am a bit cynical about whether these petitions really make any difference? Still, as they say - if you don't ask you don't get ...

Michael Ixer ● 883d

agreed, signed

Matt Palmer ● 884d