There’s still time for people to share their views on proposals to have Bodmin Moor recognised as an International Dark Sky Park.

Cornwall Council and Caradon Observatory’s month-long consultation on their proposed bid to have Bodmin Moor recognised as a gold standard International Dark Sky Park draws to a close on May 2.  The designation is comparable to World Heritage Site status.

Everyone is welcome to comment on the proposals by emailing the Council on  [email protected] or writing to Dark Sky Bid, Cornwall Council, Local Plan Team, Pydar House, Pydar Street, Truro TR1 1XU.  If there is public support for the bid, the Council will submit it this summer.

At present there are only three International Dark Sky Parks in the UK, the Elan Valley Estate in Wales, Galloway Forest Park in Scotland and Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park in England.

Edwina Hannaford, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for planning, said: ’The quality of the night sky over Bodmin Moor is amongst the best in the world.  If the Dark Sky Park bid goes ahead, it will help us to protect this area of outstanding natural beauty from light pollution.

’We’ve had a good response to the consultation so far, with more than 100 people attending our recent public event and giving us their views and suggestions about how the benefits could be rolled out across Cornwall.  There’s still time for people to tell us what they think of the proposals, and we’d love to hear from anyone who hasn’t commented yet or would like to be involved.’

Details of the proposed Bodmin Moor bid are available onwww.cornwall.gov.uk/darksky.