Street Light Win I think

[TrevorW]

For years on and off I complained to the council about a street light at the front of my house, the light from which intrudes upon my property.

For years the council passed the buck onto Western Power who passed it back to the council and generally I got nowhere.

I thought I'd try a different tack.

I wrote to the council complaining that the light from the street light shines into my bedroom at night interfering with my sleep (a white lie in that we have thick curtains and bushes covering the window) and is causing my health to suffer.

Again they tried to avoid the issue but I threatening to take the matter to the local minister.

Well today I received a letter saying they have sort a quote to have the light shaded so the light does not intrude onto my property.

Don't mention your an astronomer and it interferes with your hobby and things may happen. Also public servants hate having to answer ministerial questions.


:thumbsup:

[Wavytone]

Tell them they'll save money by fitting a better reflector and a lower wattage bulb, and suggest they do this every time the go out to replace one in the council area. In 5 years they'll have the whole suburb done, and halve the 'leccy bill.

That will get their interest.

[leon]

Nice one Trevor, must try that trick, as I have one outside my place that needs attention.

Leon

[TrevorW]

Already been down the road about changing globes, good for the environment etc and got jack done !!

[marki]

Invest in a BB gun and get your eye in before you start observing ;).

Mark

[Glenhuon]

You have learned the trick Trevor. :)
Mention the dreaded word "Ministerial" and things get done.
I was struggling to get approval for a chlorinator upgrade a number of years back and kept getting knocked back. Had a public complaint to the minister about too much chlorine in the water. Basicly got asked, "How much do you want" :lol:

Bill

[renormalised]

I know how the threat of having a Minister come down on them, gets public servants into gear!!!. I had problems obtaining some forms, years ago, from the then CES so I could get glasses made up for my eyes. The local federal member here was an old friend of the family's and the parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister of the time (Bob Hawke). The idiots had "misplaced" my forms and actually never filled out what was needed on them. He threatened the girl who served me and the regional manager for the CES that they'd be standing on the other side of the counter if the forms weren't ready for me by the time he got back there from buying his lunch down at the local cafe.

Needless to say, when I went back there, they couldn't do enough for me:D

[Allan_L]

Great idea! Thanks for the info Trevor.:thumbsup:

Inspired by your success I just fired off an email to my council in similar fashion.

I am not overly optimistic, but it is sure worth a try. :innocent:

[solissydney]

Hi Trevor.
Some good news on the lighting front over your way.



Main Roads is switching off street lights to reduce its energy use during the gas crisis.
The company has already turned off every second street light on the Kwinana, Mitchell and Graham Farmer Freeways and will do the same on Roe, Tonkin and Reid Highways.
Craig Wooldridge from Main Roads says all lights will remain on at intersections and merge areas.
He says the move will save Main Roads about 17 thousand dollars a month.
"We are looking at fairly significant energy savings, over two thousand mega watts per year, which is the equivalent of about 500 thousand litres of fuel or 18 hundred tonnes of greenhouse gases," he said.
Main Roads will review the scheme in the coming months and decide whether to continue with it permanently.
Mr Woolridge says the organisation will consider extending the trial beyond the gas crisis if there are no safety concerns.
"At the end of the gas crisis we will have a look at the crash statistics during a similar period and if it is still in line with the previous statistics then we will keep continuing the trial over a longer period," he said.

[solissydney]

Re Councils.

As I have said, and keep on saying. Try and try, and try again.
The more letters about light pollution councils receive each year, the sooner they will have to take notice and do something about the problem. Why would they take any notice if they, for instance only receive , say less then a hand full each year. Keep at it.
You will find a form letter under that you can copy, or alter to suit your circumstances, under "light pollution" sent in some days ago.

[TrevorW]

Councils have the option with Western Power to have street lights turned off at 12:00, 2:00am or 4:00am in the morning yet for some reason they don't.

When I said to the council to do this they stated they are left on for vehicle and pedestrian safety.

When I stated
a) cars have their own lights and b) what are pedestrians doing on the streets after 12:00 anyway I got no response.

Obviously they can't handle logic.

Also only a minority ever actually complain too the council about LP most ratepayers don't even consider what impact LP has.

[solissydney]

Interesting option that councils have with Western Power.
Let us hope that the idea of turning off some of the street lights on the highways will spread further afield. There will be quite a saving of energy and money by doing that.
Yes, I know, people in general don't complain enough. Not even when there are clear benefits to themselves and the environment.
How many people are members of Iceinspace? And how many live in the same areas, and under the same councils? Pity we can't all do something together that is of benefit to us all.