Council Strongly Opposes “Ghoulish” Street Lighting

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30214, 20 August 1963, Page 12

Council Strongly Opposes “Ghoulish” Street Lighting

Yellow lighting, which was described as ghoulish, on major traffic routes, was strongly opposed by the City Council last evening. The council agreed to insist on colour-corrected mercury or fluorescent lighting in city streets.

Sodium (yellow) lighting in Moorhouse avenue and at the roundabout in Ferry road at the start of the Tunnel road had been proposed by the Ministry of Works although it was well aware of the council's objections to the colour distortion by this form of lighting in residential and commercial areas, the electricity committee said. The Ministry of Works had since agreed to colourcorrected mercury lighting at the Ferry road roundabout, but there was no doubt that it was determined to try to force sodium lighting on State highways. “This is another example of the Government’s endeavour to force its wishes on boroughs through which the highways pass.” the committee said. “Unfortunately this objectionable system has gained a foothold in Christchurch in Blenheim road and Deans avenue, and if it is to be checked the council will have to make a very determined stand on all other State highways in the city.” Mr J. P. Shelley, the general manager of the Municipal Electricity Department, said the council had deprecated the use of “colour-distorting”

forms of street lighting except in streets where the motorist was virtually the only user. After summarising opinions elsewhere in New Zealand and in 10 overseas countries, Mr Shelley recommended that the council, "bearing in mind the desirability of keeping Christchurch beautiful by night as well as by day. should continue to follow the trends in many parts of the world to install colour-cor-rected mercury or fluorescent lighting in built-up areas of the city and oppose the in-

stallation of the ghoulish sodium lighting.” Quoting a president of the Association of Public Lighting Engineers, Mr Shelley said: "The pedestrian has usually completed a heavy day at his work and is entitled to consideration in walking out with a companion whose features and dress should be seen in reasonable or even complimentary colour rendering and not appear to be dressed in drab material and having yellow or colourless features, which make one appear even more tired than one feels.”