The Isle of Wight will try again to become an International Dark Skies Park after the council unanimously agreed to support the application.
If the application is approved it would only be the fourth in England, joining Northumberland, Bodmin, and West Penwith in Cornwall, which was recognised earlier this month.
However, it could come at a nearly £50,000 cost to Islanders.
Bacon: A labour of love
Cllr Jonathan Bacon, who had been chair of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership, said this was a labour of love for him, having been involved since 2017, and is working with the Vectis Astronomical Society to develop the bid.
The corporate scrutiny committee asked about the possibility of extending the dark skies park to other areas of the Island.
Strict requirements
Cllr Bacon explained it may be difficult to satisfy the strict requirements of the adjudicating body, the International Dark Skies Accreditation (IDA).
Cllr Bacon said they had been working on the current area for four years now.
He told the scrutiny committee he would not like to hold up the bid by trying to fit in other areas but the dark skies park could be expanded in the future.
Existing lighting could be changed at reasonable expense
He said the area proposed, which stretched across the South Wight between Freshwater, Chale and the edge of Newport, was also an area where existing lighting could be altered at a reasonable expense.
In the proposed dark skies park, 181 street lights need to be replaced at a cost of £49,453, as less intrusive lighting is needed.
Requires budget approval
The replacement work will take place if the cost is approved in the council’s budget for the next year, which will be set out in February.
Originally the cost of changing the lights, following the first rejected application by the IDA, was more than £82,000 but it has become possible to lower the price due to a reduced price from Island Roads.
Lighting code
A lighting code will be worked up for the area to adhere to, which will, in turn, save waste lighting, protect wildlife from unnecessary lighting and make sure lights are in the right place.
The council also hopes it will benefit tourism for the Island as it would attract people to see the ‘best light show on the planet, above our heads’, Cllr Bacon said.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
