Go-ahead for floodlights at Drunken Drove Great Massingham

Sue Miller has been given planning permission to put eight 4m-high downward-facing  LED lights around an arena in her paddock at Great Massingham, near King's Lynn.

She said the area off Drunken Drove was used by younger members of the family, who were restricted to riding horses after school and at weekends.

She added during the winter this does not provide sufficient time for training or for the regular exercise needed by the animal.

The property at Great Massingham where floodlights have been given the go-ahead (Image: Google)

Mrs Miller hoped to operate the lights, which would provide "cool white" illumination, from September 1 to March 31. 

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A planning report said that the lights were unlikely to impact on her neighbours' amenity or the surrounding countryside.

But it was a different matter when it came to bats, which the report said were present in the area.

The council's ecologist said hedgerows bordering the property and mature trees in the vicinity provided "a moderate to high quality habitat for commuting and foraging bats".

The lights can not be used during the months when bats are active (Image: Norfolk Bat Group)

"Floodlighting will deter bats from using their usual foraging areas and can change flight behaviour," it added.

"Lighting can be particularly harmful if used along river corridors, near woodland edges and near hedgerows used by bats."

The report recommended restricting lighting to be used outside of the "active bat season" between April and October.

In its decision notice approving the lights, the council said they should only be used between November 1 and March 31, between the hours of 8am and 9pm.