• From July 29, 2006

EXPERTS warned the Royal Borough’s riverside bat population was under threat from the bright lights of Kingston.

As creatures of darkness, the bats who called Kingston riverside home were becoming more confused by new developments and the extra lights that came with them, according to experts. 

Bat activity was recorded in the darkest areas of the riverside, between lux levels of zero and four.

But darkness levels in Kingston riverside were found to be between 25 and 30.

The problem was considered so serious that the Environment Agency contracted bat workers Jackie Wedd and Alison Fure to monitor light levels for The Tidal Thames Bat Survey – a bid to comply with European laws which said it was the local authority’s duty to conserve biodiversity.

The great and the good – including councillors and officers – were all packed aboard a boat trip from Stevens Ait to Thames Ditton on August 18, 2006 to demonstrate the importance of night-time darkness and the damage light causes to the wildlife.

The survey revealed not only the variety of bat species but also many areas of significant light pollution. 

These included the town centre and floodlighting of Kingston Bridge, bright security lights at Ditton Skiff and Punting Club, light spill from Ravens Ait, with naked bulbs in the garden, and light spill from private properties where owners had installed high-wattage lights in the grounds.

An increase in light had seen the rarer dark-loving bat species such as Natterer, diminish – while the common, more light-tolerant pipistrelles were still to be found. 

Campaigners warned that if light pollution was not tackled soon, bats would become extinct in the Kingston area.

Ms Fure said: “Bats are a European-protected species and our river should remain a dark corridor for wildlife species such as them.

“The council uses thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to illuminate Kingston Bridge, which is really such an unnecessary cost both financially and environmentally.

“The survey is due to continue, with more measurements of light levels and bat activity.

Ms Fure added: “Riparian landowners should consider how they light their land and property. 
“The less lighting th

 better and if used, it should be at a low level and carefully directed away from the water.”

“This is critical if we want to ensure our native bat populations can thrive.”

  • From July 30, 2006 

A KINGSTON knife amnesty saw 165 dangerous blades handed into police. It was fewer than in neighbouring Richmond, which amassed more than 300 knives during the month-long campaign named Operation Blunt.

A spokesman for Kingston police said: “Although the amnesty is over Kingston police will continue to target and arrest those who still choose to carry knives.”

  • From July 26, 1991

AN AFTERNOON stroll across Kingston Bridge was not the idyllic experience visitors expected because of a pungent smell coming from John Lewis ventilation ducts.

The air coming from the ducts was described as “mighty, rotten and stale” by one shopper. Others complained blasts of hot, pungent air were blowing up the skirts of unsuspecting women on hot afternoons. 

  • From July 27, 1966

A BABY boy was found abandoned in a New Malden phone box. The baby, who was wrapped in a towel, was thought to be just one or two days old.

Nothing with him gave any clue to identity and police put out a radio appeal to trace the parents to no avail. The baby was said to be in good health when he was found and he was sent to Kingston Hospital

Read more: Man abandoned as baby meets woman who found him