A Powys community has become the first place in Wales to be a designated a Dark Sky Place.

DarkSky International have announced that Presteigne and Norton will be turning off or dimming its lights earlier to help reduce light pollution, as part of a six year campaign by the community to become an official Dark Sky Place.

The move represents a collaboration between the local community, Presteigne and Norton Town Council, Powys County Council and Dark Source Lighting Design Studio.

Mayor of Presteigne and Norton Town Council and Powys County Council local member, Cllr Beverley Baynham said: “The whole community in Presteigne and Norton are delighted to learn that our six-year campaign to become a dark sky community has been successful.

“It has taken a lot of collaboration and commitment to reach this milestone, but I am sure all the hard work has been worth it, and the community are already seeing the benefits.

"We now have intelligent lighting that has seen all our streetlights turned back on but with bulbs that are compliant with Dark Skies. This will benefit both residents living in the community and the environment.

 “Thank you to everyone who has made this possible.”

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The Presteigne and Norton community worked over the course of six years to ensure the community met the criteria needed to become a designated International Dark Sky Space.

A total of 380 lighting columns in the area were refurbished, while 40 percent of the town’s lights have been programmed to switch off while the remaining 60 percent have been pre-set to half their intensity after midnight.

The project has also reduced the areas C02 emissions by over four tonnes.

Presteigne and Norton Dark Skies Community Leader Leigh-Harling Bowen said, “We are delighted by the outcome of Presteigne's and Norton's application to Dark Sky International to become a dark sky community.

"Without the dedicated and coordinated support of both Presteigne and Norton Town Council and Powys County Council, it would never have happened. 

“The Community has worked tenaciously to highlight the benefits of becoming a dark sky community, including an investment in the use of efficient, low energy ‘dark skies’ streetlights that have reduced our impact on the environment.

“This has resulted in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, along with a beneficial effect on wildlife, especially night flying insects, birds and bats.

"The consequential reduction in light pollution has also enabled us to see the glory of the night sky clearly, a legacy that our children and grandchildren will continue to enjoy.”