Light pollution can be subject to legal action if it is affecting health or causing a nuisance.
How to avoid light pollution:
- do not fit unnecessary lights
- do not use excessively bright lights
- do not leave lights on when they are not needed. Control them with infra-red detectors
- ensure lights are correctly aligned and installed and shaded where necessary
For a porch light that is going to be left on all night. Use a nine watt compact fluorescent lamp. A 150 watt tungsten halogen lamp is adequate for domestic security lighting.
How can we help?
First talk to your neighbour about any issues about lighting. If that does not work we can investigate complaints about both residential and commercial premises. We will need the address where the light is coming from, the person responsible (if known), how it is affecting you and how often. We may ask you to keep a diary of ongoing issues.
We will write to the people believed to be causing the light problem and offer advice. People are sometimes not aware that they are causing a problem.
We will visit you to assess the light to see if it is sufficient to be a nuisance under the legislation. We can then serve a notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requiring the light pollution to be stopped.
Lighting schemes for new building developments may have conditions imposed as part of planning permission to ensure that no light pollution is created. If such lighting causes concern, contact our Planning team.
For further information, please submit an enquiry >>