PARKS
Glowing
the way
How path is
expected to
look in the
winter months
A glow-in-the-dark path is being
introduced in a Greenford park as
an energy efficient solution to night
lighting, reports Neelum Bains.
T
he Starpath project is to be piloted in Ravenor
Park along the main path that runs from
6
Ravenor Park Road to Oldfield Lane South
Record 1
and will use a coating which absorbs light
awarded
cal parks
lo
ality.
during the day to store it for the night. It should mean
gs for qu
la
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the pathway will get brighter as the sky gets darker.
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Residents approached their ward forum
councillors for help to improve the park’s lighting.
It is a well-used path, which is why it was chosen by
environment and leisure, said: “Starpath
the council’s parks team for the trial. If it proves to be a
should allow the path to be lit up at night
success, Starpath technology could be used in other parks.
without the need for traditional, costly and more intrusive
Starpath, which was invented by UK company Pro-Teq
lighting. As well as improving safety in the park by lighting up
Surfacing UK Ltd, can be applied to almost any surface
its main path, Starpath repaired the existing path to a good
including tarmac, concrete and wood. It uses a coating
standard at the same time – with no ongoing energy costs.
which absorbs UV rays during the day and expels them at
“The initiative does not replace the need for brighter
night as a soft blue glow which can be seen in the dark.
lights on busy streets and pedestrian areas, but could be
Specialist spraying equipment has to be used to
a real solution for us to consider in areas with less footfall.
create a Starpath. The process begins with using a mix of
There is no light pollution either: The path adjusts according
materials to form a new surface on the existing path. This
to natural day light, glowing brighter the darker it gets.”
is followed by spraying it with a bioluminescent material,
To have your say on matters affecting your area, or bring
which will absorb the sun’s UV rays, and then sealing it
your ideas to your elected councillors’ attention, visit www.
with another, protective coating.
ealing.gov.uk/wardforum and find out when your next
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport,
meeting is taking place.
around ealing
Autumn 2015
37