Summary
A new 3,500-home town in the Forest of Dean will “flood” the Malvern Hills with a “dome of orange haze” that will be visible for miles at night, a light pollution expert has warned. Glynchbrook, the name given by Forest of Dean District Council to the potential town, will be wedged between the M50 and A417, bordering the Malvern Hills and the villages of Redmarley and Lowbands. The authority has been set a task by the Government to allocate land for 13,200 homes to be built over the next 20 years and Glynchbrook is one potential site. However, there has been a huge public outcry over the proposals in the nearby area. And the council’s own assessment of the proposed site warns that the new town would be at risk of regular flooding and that development could cause “landscape harm”. The assessment also recognises that the 113.8-hectare site is “poorly located for low carbon access to services”. Now, light pollution expert Ben Gamble, has warned that Glynchbrook threatens the “priceless” and “incredibly rare” dark-sky site at Castlemorton Common – 2.9-miles from the proposed new town. “A development of 3,500 homes, plus streets, shops, schools and constant vehicle movement, would flood the area with upward light and skyglow”, Mr Gamble, who hosts the Astro Ben podcast, said. “Even with the best modern LED fittings, the sheer volume of new light sources creates a dome of orange haze that travels for miles. “The Malvern Hills AONB’s own lighting guidance warns that once dark skies are lost, they are almost impossible to regain. This development would effectively write off one of the last good stargazing spots left in the Midlands”, he added. Sudden light pollution over the Malvern Hills would devastate natural habits, Mr Gamble added, noting that councils must take light pollution into account when allocating land for planning. “Nocturnal animals – bats, moths, owls, hedgehogs – rely on true darkness to hunt, navigate and breed – artificial light throws their whole ecosystems out of sync”, he said. “Light pollution is now recognised as a form of pollution under the Environment Act and in national planning guidance. “Councils already have to assess air, noise and water pollution; light should be no different. It affects biodiversity, public health, and the character of protected landscapes like the Malvern Hills National Landscape. “Ignoring it isn’t just short-sighted – it’s legally and morally indefensible when better lighting solutions exist and when other sites with lower environmental impact are available.” Mr Gamble’s concerns were shared by local residents, all of whom want to see the Glynchbrook plan scrapped. Linden Partridge, 60, from Redmarley, said: “I’ve grown up in the Malvern Hills. It is a natural sanctuary that makes our corner of the country special. The dark sky at night is breathtaking and a rare and precious commodity in this day and age. “Building thousands of homes at the foot of an area of outstanding natural beauty like the Malvern Hills would be a tragedy – an act of vandalism on the environment. “I just hope councillors are able to recognise that while we all agree we need new homes, they cannot come at the expense of our country’s most prized green spaces, if we can help it. “I think we all know there are other, more sustainable locations to build new homes, so I implore the council to do what is right and build in areas that minimise environmental harm.” Alex Girling, 58, a retired teacher from Lowbands, added: “Normally, you don’t realise what you’ve got until it’s gone. But with the Malvern Hills, everyone knows how precious it is already. “In the daytime it offers spectacular views and a chance to get away from the bustle of living. At night, it’s lit up by thousands of stars and the sounds of the natural world. “If you build a new town right on the edge of the Malvern Hills, do you think it will have the same appeal? “It will no longer be a rural oasis. It’ll be just another hill, next to an anonymous town.” Councillors will assess evidence received during the recent public consultation on their local plan, which includes Glynchbrook, before deciding whether it…
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