The lighting intensity along the roads at a holiday park in North Yorkshire must be reduced after one councillor warned that people should go to Pontins or Butlins if they want 'flashing lights' and 'stay away from the Dales'.
Aysgarth Lodge Holidays near West Burton must reduce the intensity of lighting after it was agreed at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning committee meeting on Tuesday, October 15.
The committee was told that the 6000K bulbs in the 49 bollards did not comply with the authority’s Dark Skies Initiative.
It approved the retrospective application which specified that these would be replaced with 2700K and 470 lumens bulbs with a ‘warm white’ colour.
Aysgarth Lodge Holidays was given one month to comply.
During the meeting, the planning officer said: "This would mean that the new bulbs would be in place for most of the winter 2024/25 and thereafter." He said this would be a significant improvement on the existing situation.
Burton-cum-Walden Parish Council had stated: "The council remains concerned about light pollution, particularly as we have supported the Dark Skies Initiative, but we will review the situation when the proposals are implemented."
Both North Yorkshire councillors Yvonne Peacock and Allen Kirkbride approved the application and told the committee that the bright light emanating from the holiday site had caused a lot of concern.
Cllr Peacock emphasised the need for screening as the lights from the site were visible from the B6160 near West Burton and also from the A684 when approaching Aysgarth from Hestholme Bridge.
Cllr Graham Simpkins, who represents Westmorland and Furness Council, however, was opposed to any bollard lighting.
He said: "I think we are failing in our duty. We are supposed to be protecting the Dales by protecting the countryside and the wildlife.
"If you want something that is illuminated to this extent - this isn't Pontins or Butlins or somewhere. You don’t come to the Dales.
"What about the kids who want to see our dark skies? Do they have to stop up to midnight to be able to see it? I think it’s a total failure. Bring a torch!
"I’ve got villages in my constituency that don’t have [street] lights and have dark skies and they love it. In that way, the wildlife isn’t confused and we can see the dark skies. [This] will be visible from somewhere and it doesn’t look like the Yorkshire Dales when it’s all illuminated. People come to the Dales to see the countryside and wildlife, not to see an illuminated park."
The approved application included the use of land for siting of a caravan to serve as the holiday park reception and office.
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