THE man who started a petition for a football club to cut light pollution has hit back at critics.

Artist Steve Geliot started a campaign for the American Express Community Stadium at Falmer to turn off its night lighting because of the impact on wildlife.

Mr Geliot, who lives in Brighton, has responded to critics of the petition, who claimed it was being signed by fans of rival football club Crystal Palace.

He said: “I audit the petition regularly and have easily been able to spot the four Palace fans, who have been deleted.”

The campaign has captured the attention of the national press and Mr Geliot spoke to Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio Two yesterday about his petition, which now has more than 10,000 signatures.

Mr Geliot cites analysis published by academics in the journal Biological Conservation, which says artificial light at night (ALAN) has led to a decline in insect populations.

The report, titled Light Pollution Is A Driver Of Insect Declines, states: “ALAN has led to insect declines through its interference with the development, movement, foraging and reproductive success of diverse insect species.”

According to the report, 30 per cent of insects which fly around lights at night are dead by the morning, due to exhaustion or being eaten by predators.

Mr Geliot said: “The damage is frightening. I understand why the football club has their lights on but if they can put a cover on their lighting rig, that would make a huge difference.

“What we need is a reflective screen system which does not have that light spill. It would save money in the long run as the light would be reflected back on to the grass.

“But it’s not just about the Albion. This campaign is going to go national.”

Environmental campaigners have thrown their support behind the petition.

Chris Todd from Brighton Friends Of The Earth, said: “The Amex stadium is on the border of the South Downs National Park which is an international dark skies reserve – one of only 16 in the world. This light pollution makes a mockery of that designation, especially when it can be seen for miles around.

“This petition is not about bashing football but asking the club to show a bit more awareness of its environment and to seek to minimise that impact. Rather than try and defend the indefensible, it should order a review into how these lights were commissioned without any thought as to their location or impact. A bit more engagement and forethought could have averted the outcry.”

A spokesman for the South Downs National Park Authority said: “We have great sympathy with the concerns regarding the lighting at the Amex. We will seek informal ways to work with the club to see what is possible to reduce the effects of lighting on the national park and its ‘Dark Sky’ designation.”

Brighton and Hove Albion said: “The football club must balance its concern for and responsibility to help protect the environment with our need to practically run our business as a Premier League football club watched by tens of millions of people across the world.

“In the winter months, whilst we may at times experience high rainfall and high winds, with little or no natural sunlight, a grass pitch misses a key element of its natural ability to regenerate and grow after use. We must therefore replicate that loss of light artificially. Please be assured that we take our responsibilities for the environment very seriously indeed.”