Disturbing neighbours
Light intruding into neighbouring homes and properties keep people awake at night, destroying any sense of privacy, and increasing anxiety. Hence, complaints against "security" floodlights have rocketed - complaints increased by 44% between 1993-1996, and over half are caused by home "security" floodlights (55%; with 21% of complaints caused by sports lighting).
It has been medically proven that denying people a good night's sleep can result in various medical problems. Often, sufferers are simply told to buy thicker curtains to block out the light pollution - but this also blocks out the morning Sun, making it harder for an individual to wake naturally. Such disruption to natural sleep patterns can be caused by either shining light constantly into people's homes, or by "security" flood-lights coming on and waking people.
Streetlights are increasingly causing problems, shining into peoples homes throughout the night. DEFRA draft guidance on the clean neighbourhoods act states: "13.94 Local authorities already have the means to deal with nuisance street lighting and are accountable to those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. "
So please, make sure your business or home lighting does not shine into neighbours' homes.
Related News items
April, 2005
The Leicester Mercury: Watt a carry on
"New high-powered lamps installed in the village are so intense the residents claim they can read books in their gardens in the middle of the night. They say the bulbs burn so bright they have confused birds into singing 24 hours a day. People living in Wood Lane, which is one of the worst affected areas, say the street now appears to be floodlit.
Quorn Parish Council, which is calling for the lights to be dimmed, said the changes had stunned local residents. Clerk Kathryn Paterson said: "It looks like lighting from a retail park. It is incredibly bright and not at all what you would expect from a country lane. On the first evening after they were installed, birds were still singing, even though it was very dark, because the street lamps had convinced them it was still light. Have street lighting by all means, but we don't want the whole area lit up like this."
Parish council vice chairman Phil Child said: "It did come as a bit of a shock to people compared with the low-level lighting we have before. "To their credit, Leicestershire County Council has agreed to reduce the wattage, so we will have to wait to see what happens." "
April, 2005
Exterior floodlighting is now subject to the law of statutory nuisance under s. 102 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. This means that a victim of a nuisance light may now take the matter to their Environmental Health Department, so that the "State" may intervene to issue an abatement notice (to remove or angle the light down), or prosecute for continued nuisance. An individual also has the right to take an action themselves to the Magistrates Court. The law applies to "artificial light emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance", but with exceptions (see the link above).
December, 2004
The Daily Telegraph: Switch that light off or face a fine
"Light pollution is to become a statutory offence, enabling people to take on neighbours whose lights stop them from sleeping. Under a Bill published yesterday, anyone who finds that artificial light emitting from premises is "prejudicial to health or a nuisance" will be able to complain to the council. If the offender takes no action, he or she could face fines of up to £50,000."
See also the House of Commons website
October, 2004
BBC News: Village street lights win award.
"A Somerset village which raised £24,000 to install environmentally-friendly street-lighting has won a US award."
March, 2004
Stargazers to be helped by curbs on night glow. The Telegraph states that: "Planning curbs on light pollution to protect the night sky from orange glow are to be introduced by the Government."
October 31st, 2002
Washington Post: Man Accused In Deadly Shooting