[Discuss] Parker's Piece lighting scheme

[peter constable]

Hi John
just back from USA. Agree entirely with you thinking. We don't want fair ground lighting on JG.
I responded personally but we must be prepared as a group to get a sensible solution.
We are meeting soon, see you then.
Peter
peter constable
p.constable at ntlworld.com


On 1 Mar 2013, at 19:14, John Lawton wrote:

> Dear SOS member,
> 
> hopefully you are aware of the recent City Council lighting trial on Parker's Piece. There is a public consultation which closes this Monday, see this link: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/parkers-piece-lighting-consultation
> 
> In case you haven't seen the scheme, there are pictures on the SOS website:
> http://www.soscambridge.org.uk
> 
> How did we get here?
> A student representative asked a question at a West/Central Area Committee meeting last year requesting additional lighting on the common for safety reasons.
> 
> http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Sunken-lights-answer-to-safety-fears-along-paths-05032012.htm
> 
> Local activist Richard Taylor has reported on this process here: http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/lighting-parkers-piece-on-west-central-area-committee-agenda.html
> 
> I am very surprised how promptly and energetically the council has responded to this request, ward councillors have put their backing to the scheme, posing for a front page photo in the January 31st Town Crier. If only this happened for other issues we campaign on!
> 
> I am very concerned that the council is trialling such an obtrusive scheme. When first mooted, we were led to believe that low level lights would be used such as these:
> http://cambridge.cyclestreets.net/location/11142/
> 
> These were apparently rejected at an early stage. What is in there now is a set of what could be described as supermarket car park lighting bollards which I believe would cause unnecessary terrible damage to this unencumbered open space.  How the council could even consider these could ever be appropriate is beyond me.
> 
> A single retractable light has also been tested which retracts to a low profile.  This however begs the question of what would happen at dusk when such lights would extend without warning. Pedestrians and cyclists might suddenly find lights appearing in their path. This could lead to serious accidents.
> 
> A suggestion has been made that solar stud lighting which is being installed in various cycleways including The Busway maintenance track cyclepath could be used.  These studs are fitted flush so should not present a hazard, however it remains to be seen whether these would provide sufficient lighting to suit the objectives of the scheme.
> 
> Our article on the SOS website includes a link to the council's 2001 Conservation Report. I believe that this lighting scheme has been designed without reference to the conservation advice on page 61 which says: "Strongly resist the placing of permanent structures or artefacts in the central open area of Parker's Piece."  Moreover increased lighting of the commons will change their nature and it is not clear that actual safety will be increased as a result.
> 
> Worryingly this scheme could act as a prototype for additional lighting on the other commons.
> 
> I have been asked to speak (against) on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on Monday morning with another party, probably from the student body who will speak for the scheme.
> 
> I'd be interested to hear your views on the subject beforehand!
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> John
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Save Our green Spaces: http://www.soscambridge.org.uk
> Twitter: @SOS_Cambridge
> ------------------------------------------------------ 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> discuss mailing list
> discuss at soscambridge.org.uk
> http://soscambridge.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss_soscambridge.org.uk