Hello.

A house a few doors away from me, has started to leave their security light on all night. The light is on the front of the house and is really bright. I think they do it so it lights up their car which is parked on the road. It lights up my bedroom so much that I have to put dark towels at the windows! Does anyone know whether the council could/would do anything about this if I complained to them? I dont really want to go ask the people myself as they look a bit mean!

Any help/info on this would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Zip.

Dunno if it helps but I would strongly advise going and talking to these people first.
If they look a bit mean they could actually be absolutely fine. If they are mean they'll tell you they are not prepared to do anything, then you could start council proceedings etc...

If they are mean and you just start proceedings without talking to them first, they could become even more mean and quite nasty!

Godd luck! :thumbsup:

Definately, try talking to them first. They might look mean, but they might be very nice! You could always go round with partner/housemate etc if you don't want to go on your own. If you are polite and explain the problem, I'm sure they will be sympathetic.

There could be all sorts of explanations - maybe they haven't even realised they are doing it, or maybe they could put in a lower wattage bulb or change the angle it shines at.

If it is causing a nuisance to you, that is, a civil nuisance, then, like noisy neighbours or inconsiderate neighbours, you have a cause to complain.

But if you want to do so, start at the source: your neighbours themselves. They may not even be aware it's troubling you.

One thing is for sure: if you think they're mean you'll soon find out if they receive correspondence directly from the Council without first hearing from you!

Throw stones at the light until it smashes?

Or steal the bulb?

Originally posted by ZIPPYZ
Hello.


Any help/info on this would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Zip.

Zippyz: I can recommend blackout material its only cheap from any market and you can just pin it to your curtains/blind if your not much into sewing.

Other than that personally I would lodge your complaint with the council there are bylaws covering this type of thing.

Hope this helps....

You could tell them that the electricity is costing them over £200 per year.

Plus, there was an interview with a former burglar in FHM a couple of years ago. He praised always-on security lights because

a) It doesn't arouse suspicion when they come on

b) It gives the burglars a great view of your property and can see to avoid garden obscructions and which windows or doors are easiest to open.

Tell your neighbour that and I bet his floodlit garden plunges into darkness!

If all else fails, you could always install one on your wall, pointing in their direction. Switch it on every time theirs comes on and give them a taste of Colditz too. I reckon they will soon get the message. These quartz halogen type lights are a real pain and there's nothing worse than one of these things shining through your window. Usually favoured by selfish, couldn't give a toss about anyone else type characters.

Have you not played MGS3?!

Handgun, suppressor.. Take the S.O.B out :)

light pollution legislation was passed late last year. But try talking to them first.

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I'm going to go and see them tonight if the light is left on again (which it probably will be). It is stupidly bright, the whole street is lit up! I'm hoping a few more people will complain to them as well. The light shines really brightly into 8 peoples homes.

Wish me luck for tonight!

Zip.

PS, if they refuse, does anyone know how to complain to the council as i've never done any thing like this before?

Originally posted by ZIPPYZ
Thanks everyone for all your advice. I'm going to go and see them tonight if the light is left on again (which it probably will be). It is stupidly bright, the whole street is lit up! I'm hoping a few more people will complain to them as well. The light shines really brightly into 8 peoples homes.

Wish me luck for tonight!

Zip.

PS, if they refuse, does anyone know how to complain to the council as i've never done any thing like this before?

That's the spirit:clap:

Get all your neighbours, naked ofcause, to do a sit-down protest in the middle of the road. My parents-in-law make signs and banners and I can provide the acoustic guitar.

Now...who's providing the Herbal Jazz Cigarettes? Oh, and Social Worker say they would love to come..and Big Issue...and even the NUM!

a mate of mine once rigged up a spot lamp that ran off a car battery,id shine that into the back windows of the house opposite until they came round one night askin why i was shining such bright lights at their house,
i told them it was to stop them having a perv through my windows,why else would they be shining theirs through mine, ect,
2 days later they tilted their light further to the ground,
they genuingly didnt realise anybody was put out by their "security" light,
i also pointed out to them ,the more light on your property the more chance you'v got of getting burgled,stats prove this worldwide,
im not shure but if it persists ask the council about asbo's :P
JJ..

Mr riggs up a blank cartrage but the big gate and double paddlocks works best ;) We got the shed cum garrage broke into loud bang in oiks earole didnt work that well lil fekker came bak but it woke the neighbous they phoned police,big gates etc after that, property returned tho. Observant neighbours is best hepl tho

You should speak to your neighbours first..Don't just assume they're mean people. They may be very nice and not even aware that it is causing a nuisance..For the sake of good relations it's best to at least give them chance to do something first before going all official on them.

You could also consider starting a Neighbourhood Watch scheme with this neighbour ZIPPYZ? Or at least invite the local anti-crime police round for a cup of tea and some advice, and get the neighbours to join you.

I'd try talking to them first. As other poster's have said, they may not be aware the light is bothering you. If that does the trick, great.

If it doesn't...and you can reach the light, and are reasonably sure no one will see you, sneak over and unscrew the bulb just enough so it won't come on. :suspect:

It will drive them crazy. If the bulb is broken or stolen, they'll just replace it. But if it's still there and working, they'll think it's something in the wiring. Just be careful not to get caught.

Inconsiderate people deserve no mercy. Heh.

But if you don't want to do that, then report them to the proper authorities. Wishing you luck with this. There are few things more aggravating than something that interferes with your sleep.

:) Sierra

All affected neighbours could position mirrors so that the light is deflected back at them.:cool:

Hello.

Thanks for all your help. The light has been turned off!! Hurrah. It seems another one of my neighboughs has been round to speak to them. Saved me from doing it! Its now lovely and dark in my bedroom, no more towels at the windows and no more stress.

If it comes back on, you'll all be the first to know!

Thanks
Zip.