THE man behind plans to fire lasers into the night sky from Southampton's Civic Centre has described critics of the project as "doomsayers".

Engineer and artist Peter Fink - designer of the £249,000 Southampton Laser Gateway scheme - told the Daily Echo it would help to address the "total lack of confidence" in the city in how it presented itself to visitors.

Mr Fink said: "Everyone knows about Southampton internationally but the city is not making the most of it."

He revealed that the inspiration behind the scheme came from the Civic Centre clock tower's bell which was inscribed with a message which called Hampshire men back to the city.

He said that the idea for a laser "lighthouse" was central to the identity of the city and added that astronomers at Greenwich Royal Observatory where a laser light had been installed for at least ten years had not complained about their views of the night sky being obscured.

He said: "The lasers are horizontal, they don't interfere. Light pollution in cities is mostly caused by street lights and illumination of buildings. While lasers are very visible to the human eye, the light that travels down a laser beam is very small.

"The light is between three and four watts, that is very little, the average light bulb is between 25 and 30 watts.

"If you are an astronomer, the only way it could affect you is if your were directly under the beam.

"You could not have had the Royal Observatory maintaining the laser beam for so long if they thought it was bad.

"You get a lot of people reacting as doomsayers."

The scheme to light up the city with lasers is being spearheaded by Southamp-ton Partnership and the city council with cash to pay for the project coming from the South East of England Development Agency.

Southampton Partnership chairman Ros Cassy said: "While recognising the concerns which have been raised, I would reiterate that, before deciding to invest in this project we sought assurances on light and energy emissions and were advised that these would be minimal.

"Lasers involve virtually no diffraction and generate virtually no light pollution. All that will be visible should be a pencil-thin (2.7mm) beam which will not affect star gazing' in the same way that street lighting, sports fixtures or conventionally lit structures do.

"The Southampton Partnership believes this initiative will help achieve a brighter future for the city."