Sir, The new architectural lighting of St Michael at the Northgate is magnificent (Reports, April 21 and 28).

The imaginative and environmentally-sound approach adopted by the High Sheriff, the Church authorities and by Oxford City Council could not be in greater contrast to the attitude of the Vale of White Horse District Council in its headquarters town of Abingdon. A year ago, it ordered the floodlighting on the spire of the landmark church of St Helen to be extinguished because of cost concerns and possible liability under a new Environment Act provision.

Concerned residents contacted the council to try to get them to get this sorted out, to no avail. After six months of inaction, I contacted the leader of the Vale on November 1.

On November 15, he replied 'your comments regarding the floodlighting of St Helen's spire should be addressed to Abingdon Town Council'. I subsequently discovered (using the Freedom of Information Act) that two days after claiming that this was a town competence, his PA sent an internal e-mail stating that the leader was of the opinion that the floodlighting of churches should be the responsibility of the church and/or parish/town council and asking why we currently maintain this facility?

After learning of the High Sheriff's praiseworthy initiative in Oxford, I recontacted the Vale and suggested that this was an ideal model for action.

Architectural lighting is a low-cost, low-energy solution that would truly do justice to the 1,000-year-old church of St Helen, whilst avoiding any light pollution and helping make the town a safer and more attractive place.

Scaffolding is being erected on the spire of St Helens as part of the new bell project. There really could not be a better time to put in low-cost and environmentally-friendly architectural lighting.

Michael Hocken, Abingdon