New lights approved for Suffolk football pitch
East Suffolk Council voted in favour of approving the new lighting system for the Victory Road pitch
At a glance
New pitch lighting has been approved for Leiston Football Club in Suffolk
Modern LED lights will replace older halogen floodlights
Concerns over light pollution were proved unfounded after additional testing
- Published
A football club has been given the go-ahead to install a new lighting system.
Improved lighting for Leiston Football Club’s pitch on Victory Road was approved by East Suffolk Council and will replace the club’s current system.
Modern LED lights will substitute halogen floodlights, described as "not fit for purpose" in a report by council officers.
Two new towers with three lights each will also be put up at the halfway lines.
East Suffolk Council’s environmental protection team previously expressed concerns about the impact of light pollution on neighbours, but modelling carried out afterwards showed acceptable lighting levels, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The latest cut off times for the lights will be 18:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 18:30 for Saturdays and Sundays.
A later time of 22:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays is only expected in exceptional circumstances, such as a match running later than planned.
The Blues, external also hope to replace the grass pitch with a third-generation, all-weather area, as well as rebuilding the changing rooms and adapting the clubhouse.
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