People around Gatwick Airport urged to join Dark Skies Star Count

Campaign group CAGNE is urging people to join the event, between February 6 and 14.

Light pollution not only limits our views of the night sky, but also disrupts the natural world, the group said. A recent UN study revealed light pollution is a driver of insect declines, says habitat loss, pesticide use, invasive species and climate change have all played a role in insect declines globally, but that artificial light at night is another important but often overlooked cause detrimental to wildlife habits.

Residents are being urged to take part in the government night flight consultation, deadlines March 3 and May 31 and to call for a ban on night flights, CAGNE said. Visit www.cagne.org to find out more details.

Normally, Gatwick Airport operates a quota of 11,200 night flights during the summer period and 3,250 in the winter months, as well as projecting light pollution far and wide from ground operations.

The group has also welcomed trade union UNITE’s call for new job creation.

Gatwick has been hit hard by coronavirus as the Government has introduced travel bans and quarantine rules..

A spokesman for the CAGNE committee said the sector must ‘start to rebuild a new workforce’. He added: “We call on local leadership and decision-makers to do the same and more, to invest away from its dependence on Gatwick towards a more sustainable greener workforce.”

Gatwick Airport has been approached for comment.