Dealing with Light Nuisance

The following is a list of measures which may be taken to combat the effects of light. Unfortunately, there is at present no easy solutions to the problem. Here are our suggestions on how to tackle both problematic public lighting, as well as privately owned lighting.

Public & Street Lighting

Contact your local council's public/street lighting department, explain the problem you are having, and ask what they can do to minimise the problem. You can find the contact details of you local lighting department through your local council's internet site. A full list of council internet site can be found at the direct.gov.uk website.

The council will have several possible solutions available to tackle your problem, including:

  • replacing the light fitting,
  • install dimming technology,
  • installing shields to the streetlights (a relatively cheap option),
  • or simply paint the offending end of the light black! (a very cheap option!)

DEFRA draft guidance on the clean neighbourhoods act states: "13.94 Local authorities already have the means to deal with nuisance street lighting and are accountable to those within their areas. Local authorities should do their best to ensure that streetlights under their control do not cause problems to the local community. The Government expects local authorities to take reasonable steps to investigate and, where appropriate, resolve problems from streetlights as a matter of good practice and consideration for the local environment and the community to whom they are accountable. "


The following is a quote from a member of the public who followed the advice of the CfDS. The problem was as follows: "My local council last week installed new street lighting along my road. My front bedroom is now bathed in permanent light and the shadows cast by my driveway gate reach the back of the house with light right into my back garden! I'm going to write to the council ...".

Although this resident initially suffered from the light pollution without complaining to the local council, seven months later we received the following reply:

Having had a few nights good sleep while the lights had been off (ongoing fault on them) I got fed up with them and decided to phone around (knew I'd never get around to writing!).
Got hold of some guy at the relevant dept. ... and he tried to convince me that the new lights gave out less glare than before!!! Told him that they cast shadows 200ft away in my back garden and he said something about looking into it when he could. I also told him my neighbours were annoyed as well.
The next evening when the sun set I thought that the lights had gone out again as it was so dark in my garden that I went to look and low and behold the street light was on but not shining back onto my property!! They have fitted a "shield" at the back of the reflector which covers only about 25% of it but in my estimation has cut the glare onto my property/into my bedroom by [approximately] 90%.
My neighbours saw them doing it and it took about 10 mins - the workmen have promised to come back and do another lamp for them when they've got more in stock.
...I am pleased with the response and outcome...


Usually, the main cost involved for the council in fixing such nuisance street-lighting is the labour costs involved. So, as in the case quoted above, if you contact the council when a lighting engineer has to visit the streetlight anyway, they are usually happy to carry out any additional work while they are there.

Remember! No matter how infuriating the light nuisance might be, remain calm and polite when contacting your local council! If you are nice to them, they may be nice to you and fix your problem!

Private Lighting

Naturally, all problems are best resolved using the simplest method possible. Hence non-confrontational negotiations with the offending party may be successful and should be attempted first. You may like to try the following:

  • Approach the owner, politely requesting the re-angling of the light down-wards or the fitting of a passive infra red sensor, or a lower power bulb;
  • If you are an astronomer you could offer the owner of the light a look through your telescope, or invite them to see just how much light is shining onto your property;
  • You could always try and tell the owner just how much money they are spending on lighting;

Discuss the fact that lights have not been proved to deter criminals. Insurance companies do not offer any policy reductions for exterior lighting, but some do offer reductions for burglar alarms and other much more certain deterrents. Also, most dwelling house burglaries occur during the day. Lights in secluded back gardens may simply serve as courtesy lights for a burglar, assisting them in committing a crime. Some might even act to tempt a burglar, by blinding any onlookers with light (see our lighting and security page).

Legal Remedies

If this approach fails, try contacting your local council or local MP, and asking them for help and advice. But if all else fails, the law may be able to help you. Full details of how the law can help can be found on our Light Pollution and the Law webpage.

Remember: if you are not the only person being affected, you could attempt to gain the support of any other victims of the light in order to bolster your argument.

Tactical

There is plenty which anyone can do tactically to assist in combating light pollution:-

  • Suggest the control of lighting to local planning departments when considering planning applications;
  • Contact local councillors and M.P.'s and inform them of the problem. Their support may be useful in dealing with councils and planning applications. Be persistent as many may not reply at first;
  • Contact local press. Reporters may be interested in environmental matters;
  • If you are an astronomer, you could keep light pollution in the public eye by offering relevant material to the media, or local organisations (schools, clubs, W.I.'s, etc);
  • Offer to assist the CfDS with its publicity. Local officers are still needed;
  • Write to local retailers, lighting engineers, and the Highways Department, making sure that they consider the issue. Praise good lighting schemes which restrict upward light; the CfDS has an award for good lighting.
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