A CAMPAIGNER has said he's looking into the possibility of Brampton becoming a Dark Sky Town to help nature and cash-in on the boom in Astro-tourism.

Councillor Ian Rodley raised the possibility at an online parish council meeting on Tuesday evening, after attending a briefing by the Cumbria dark skies project officer this month.

The status means light pollution, generated by street, domestic and other forms of lighting, does not hinder a clear view of the night sky.

According to research light pollution can affect animal behaviour.

Mr Rodley said: "There there is notable impacts to wildlife, in terms of migrations, circadian rhythm - interestingly for example, if there are artificial lights in the sky, song birds sing for longer because they get confused about when is dawn.

"There are also positive impacts from the perspective of Astro-tourism."

He added that places like Kielder, to the north east of Brampton the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is also looking to gain a dark sky status, and that Talkin Tarn was already a dark skies listed site.

Mr Rodley added: "There are a number of dark sky areas surrounding Brampton and so our use of light in the town can make an impact on the effectiveness of those areas."

He said measures, such as making street lights "dark skies compliant" and the promotion of "dark skies thinking among the population", for example "the use of downward directed lights as opposed to "broad floodlights" could help.

He said: "We could look in the future of becoming a Dark Sky Town and I think I would like to look into that and propose it for decision at a future meeting.

"We could look to getting involved at an early stage rather than later."

At the meeting he also proposed a study of the light pollution from Brampton and it's impact on the surrounding dark skies areas, in an item on research projects.

He said: "It links back into that dark skies approach.

"I think there ecological benefits

"I think it could be quite an interesting research topic that could be done remotely."

At the meeting he agreed to take the application forward.