Casco LED lights get mixed reviews
Casco LED lights get mixed reviews
By Dawn De Busk
Staff Writer
CASCO — LED streetlights might be illuminating to some people. Yet, for other citizens, the bulbs are a blinding nuisance.
One Casco resident, who brought her concerns to Central Maine Power (CMP) as well as to the town, explained why she was frustrated with the new lighting. ...
Last week, Casco resident Ilene Tidd spoke during public participation time at the Casco Board of Selectmen’s meeting.
“I previously reached out by e-mail to the select board and the town manager, regarding an LED light pole that is negatively impacting our property,” she began. ...
“They are much brighter than the amber colored sodium sulphate lights they replaced. If the LED lights aren’t properly installed, they can cause more light pollution. They are harsh on the eyes,” she said. ...
“Lights along property lines will be visible to residents, but should be appropriately shielded,” she read. ...
Selectman Scott Avery understood her point of view, but advocated for more lighting on poorly lit roads.
“I can see why you are looking at your light,” he said.
“At Pike’s Corner, I am cheering for the LED lights because that intersection is dark. It is supposedly one of the worst intersections in the state. But yet, without Crossroads Store there and [the owner] being so great and keeping spotlights on there, that intersection is black. Unfortunately a couple of the businesses have been burglarized because it is so dark and anyone driving by can’t see anything,” Avery said.
He repeated that he understood Tidd’s viewpoint and had seen the photos she submitted.
“At the same time, all our intersection are dark. Every single one of them. Cooks Mills and Tenney Hill Road are dark. Route 302 and Tenny Hill are dark. We had to address those concerns,” he said.
More streetlights would be advantageous in the area around Crooked River School, he said.
“The reasoning for the LED is our town was dark in places it shouldn’t be dark,” Avery said. “Pike’s Corner is still dark, but better than it was.” ...
FOR FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE, PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW:
