Costa Cálida
Murcia plans to turn out the lights
By h.b.
Jun 2, 2008 - 8:25 AM

A new law against light contamination is being introduced in the Murcia region. It intends to reduce the cost of public street lighting by fifty percent. The regional councillor for sustainable development is reported by La Verdad newspaper this morning to be putting the final details to the draft legislation.

Among the points, lasers and light cannons, often used by discotecs and other venues are to be banned, and the time that outside advertising hoardings can be illuminated is to be limited in power and time. The proposed legislation would be one of the first to be introduced in Spain and could start its parliamentary procedure in Murcia as early as September, and be in force by the end of the year.

Ecologists have been demanding such legislation for some years and say that illumination has been destroying nocturnal ecosystems.

(Environment story)