COWES SPORTS LOOK TO UPGRADE PITCH LIGHTING TO NEW LED TYPE

Brighter lights could be installed at Cowes Sports Football Club’s home ground, but the club insists the change will have less impact on its neighbours. The Wessex League Premier Division side, who play at Westwood Park in Reynolds Close, is looking to upgrade its floodlights. The existing ones at Westwood Park are the typical ‘bulb’ type design but the club wants a more efficient LED system. The proposed new lights would be brighter and would provide a more even spread of lighting on the pitch, the club said in planning documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council. It has also said the LED lights would cause ‘less overspill’ onto neighbouring properties. According to the Football Association (FA), playing at the level the club does, its ground should have lighting, which reads at least an average of 200 lux. The football club is therefore seeking permission from the Isle of Wight Council to change the conditions attached to the ground’s planning permission. It would allow the club to install the LED lights by increasing the illumination of the floodlights, reading an average of 225 lux, but no more than 251 lux. The lights would fit onto the existing floodlight poles, the plans say. You can view the plans, 24/00199/RVC, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 15th March.