A FINAL decision on controversial plans to light up the skies over Southampton will be taken in a fortnight.
The £250,000 Southampton Laser Gateway project, which would see four laser lights beamed from the city's civic centre clock tower, was discussed at a city council Cabinet meeting today.
The plans came under fire from local astronomers and environmentalists as well as opposition councillors, who said the scheme would cause light pollution.
Members of the New Forest Friends of the Earth staged a small protest outside the meeting.
However members of the council's ruling Liberal Democrat group said that the project would give the city a much-needed Wow factor.
As part of the project, green lasers would be fired from the clock tower, and would normally visible for around five miles but could reach up to 15 miles during optimum conditions.
The final decision to go ahead with the scheme, which is being funded by the South East England Development Agency, will be taken at the city council's next Cabinet meeting on Monday, January 22.
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