Light nuisance

Light Nuisance relates to artificial light which either affects the health of a person or creates a nuisance.

However, this does not include light emitted from premises used for transport purposes or where high levels of light are required for safety and security reasons. For example:

• Airports - Public service vehicle operating centres
• Harbours - Goods vehicle operating centres
• Railway premises
• Lighthouses
• Tramway premises
• Prisons
• Bus stations and associated facilities
• Premises occupied for defence purposes

There is a defence for all trade, industrial, business or outdoor sports facilities that the best practicable means to prevent light pollution is being taken.

Make a complaint about light nuisance

Use our online form to make a complaint about a light nuisance or alternatively contact us on:

• Tel: 01509 634636
• Email: env.health@charnwood.gov.uk

I have a light nuisance problem

There is little in the way of formal guidance as to what constitutes legally actionable light pollution. We investigate light nuisance in much the same way as we investigate noise nuisance.

This is intended to establish whether the problem is sufficiently severe as to warrant legal action by us. We make this judgement against the following criteria:

• How long the nuisance goes on for
• How often it happens
• The effect the nuisance has
• The motives behind the action causing the nuisance
• The light-sensitivity of the complainant

For more information on how we investigate complaints, how we make decisions on the action we take and what we can do have a look at our fact sheet:

• Nuisance From Artificial Light Fact Sheet (PDF Document, 0.28 Mb)

Advice on security light installation

Advice and recommended installion methods to minimise obtrusive security lighting can be found in the following guidance notes from The Institution of Lighting Engineers:

• Domestic Security LIghting (PDF Document, 0.23 Mb)
  
• Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light (PDF Document, 0.11 Mb)