New LED street lights to be 'dark sky' approved

The scheme will see old sodium lights replaced with LED bulbs

Ageing street lights in a village in the south of the Isle of Man will be upgraded in a way that will keep light pollution to a minimum.

Port Erin Commissioners has received Treasury approval to borrow £215,000 for the scheme to replace 294 sodium lights with new LED bulbs, which are "dark sky compliant".

The plan would also see some decorative lights added to the upper promenade and a small amount of festoon lighting put in place in the direction of the Cosy Nook Café on the beach below.

Chairman Hannah Mackenzie said the use of LED bulbs meant the scheme would also be "cost neutral" over time.

• Dark sky success for Isle of Man

Ms Mackenzie told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We were very keen to continue with our biosphere and incorporate the dark sky scheme.

"Every light when this project is complete will conform and will be dark sky compliant, which we think is great."

She said while some of the existing lights would need to be completely replaced, including the columns, other would just see the light itself upgraded.

Another "bonus" of the scheme was that the "the cost that we're saving from the LED bulbs will obviously offset the petition that we've put to the Treasury", she said.

That meant although it was a capital scheme to be repayed over 15 years, the savings would mean there would be no further burden on the ratepayers in the long run, she added.