Stargazers could soon have a clearer view of the night sky.

Councillors from all three tiers of local government in the Arun area - county, district and town and parish - are worried that soaring light pollution is blocking views of the night sky.

The Downland Area Committee plans to do something about it and are asking residents what their views are.

Paul Unsworth, head of environmental health at Arun District Council, said: "The committee was concerned about the impact of excess light, which can pollute the community through its intrusiveness and nuisance value.

"It can also produce glare, which interferes with our normal ability to view objects, can detract from the architectural appearance of buildings, can seriously affect ecology and wildlife of our area, particularly the behaviour patterns of mammals, birds, insects and fish, and lead to a waste of energy as excess light wastes resources and money.

"It often occurs that areas are overlit or lights are badly placed, leading to wastage, glare and, in the worst situations, a sky glow, which destroys the night sky - also a serious concern to astronomers.

"There is little that can be done to regulate excess light or light pollution and whilst the new Local Plan enables the Council Planning Authority to impose conditions on new development, no such conditions exist for premises which have previously been granted planning permission.

"Neither is there an ability to control nuisance from excess lighting as it is not legally recognised as such, unlike other pollutants such as noise, smoke and smell."

Professional astronomers welcomed the council's policy.

Dr John Mason, astronomer and resident lecturer at South Downs Planetarium in Chichester, said he was delighted with the news and urged people to send in their comments.

If you have any views on light pollution in your area, please write to Arun District Council's Head of Environmental Health, Paul Unsworth, at Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5LF, or email paul.unsworth@arun.gov.uk The Downland Area Committee will be reconsidering the matter at its meeting on July 14 at Arundel Town Hall, 7pm.

All are welcome to attend.