A BID is being prepared to have West Cornwall recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve which could lead to greater protection for wildlife as well as boosting year-round tourism.

The main purpose of being designated as a Dark Sky Reserve would be to protect the quality of the sky at night over west Cornwall.

Bodmin Moor is the only other area in Cornwall which has been given the international status.

And a drop-in event is being planned in Penzance next month to drum up support for the west Cornwall bid.

Sue James, Cornwall councillor for St Just in Penwith, who has been leading work on the bid, said she hoped it would get the backing of locals.

She said it had already received support from the National Trust, which has produced leaflets and posters for the consultation event, as well as Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

She said: “It is an international designation and you have to take light meter readings at night in the winter to show how dark it gets and you have to meet certain standards over a certain area.

“After Bodmin achieved the designation some of our parish councillors down here became quite interested to see if we could do it here, one of them bought a light meter and we found that the quality down here is actually better than Bodmin.

“That has stimulated quite a lot of interest and now we are looking to draw up a bid.”

In order to make a bid, a dossier of evidence is needed to show that the area does meet the criteria needed and there also needs to be evidence to show support from local people, businesses and organisations.

Cllr James said there could be several benefits if west Cornwall is successful.

“The designation would protect the dark skies so when it comes to planning applications we would be able to ensure that any lighting does not impact on the dark skies.

“There is also the possibility of bringing people to the area out of season which would be a boost for our tourism businesses. And it would help wildlife as some species of bats, for example, are at risk as light pollution damages their life cycle.”

However Cllr James was keen to point out that the designation would not lead to anyone being forced to change their lights but work would be done to try to encourage people to limit light pollution.

She said: “Part of the scheme is that you have to have an education outreach programme and that would involve going to businesses and encouraging them to help protect the dark skies.

“That would be by asking them to ensure that lights face downwards – it is about having influence rather than enforcement.”

Cllr James said it was hoped that the International Dark Sky Association was very interested in the bid from west Cornwall and said it was hoped to be able to achieve the designation by spring next year.

As well as next month’s consultation event the organisers are planning a meeting with stakeholders and landowners in September.

And Cllr James said she was working with the Minack Theatre to hold an event where people will be able to look at the sky through telescopes and take photographs.

The West Cornwall Dark Sky Reserve consultation event will be held at St Johns Hall in Penzance on Wednesday, July 17, from 4pm to 7pm.

More information can be found at www.cornwall.gov.uk/darksky