Brighter lights could be installed at Westwood Park in Cowes

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Brighter lights could be installed at an Isle of Wight football club’s home ground, but Cowes Sports insists the change will have less impact on its neighbours.

The Yachtsmen play at Westwood Park in Reynolds Close and the Wessex League Premier Division side is looking to upgrade its floodlights.

The existing ones at Westwood Park are the typical ‘bulb’ type design but the club wants a more efficient LED system.

The proposed new lights would be brighter and would provide a more even spread of lighting on the pitch, the club said in planning documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council.

It has also said the LED lights would cause ‘less overspill’ onto neighbouring properties.

According to the Football Association (FA), playing at the level the club does, its ground should have lighting, which reads at least an average of 200 lux.

The football club is therefore seeking permission from the IW Council to change the conditions attached to the ground’s planning permission.

It would allow the club to install the LED lights by increasing the illumination of the floodlights, reading an average of 225 lux, but no more than 251 lux.

The lights would fit onto the existing floodlight poles, the plans say.

You can view the plans, 24/00199/RVC, on the IW Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until March 15.