Spelthorne Borough Council

Providing Quality Services to the People of
Ashford, Laleham, Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell & Sunbury

Light pollution

skip through navigation (Access Key = S ) Jump to Accessibility Information (Access Key = 0 ) Jump to Home Page (Access Key = 1 ) Jump to News (Access Key = 2 ) Jump to Site Map (Access Key = 3 ) Jump to Search Box (Access Key = 4 ) Jump to Frequently Asked Questions (Access Key = 5 ) Jump to Help Page (Access Key = 6 ) Jump to Complaints (Access Key = 7 ) Jump to Terms and Conditions (Access Key = 8 ) Jump to Feedback Form (Access Key = 9 ) Jump to content (Access Key = N ) Jump to Business and Advice (Access Key = B ) Jump to Leisure and Culture (Access Key = C ) Jump to Council and Community Diary (Access Key = M ) Jump to Environment and Planning (Access Key = V ) Jump to Community and Learning (Access Key = G ) Jump to Do It Online (Access Key = O ) Jump to Children and Young People (Access Key = P ) Jump to A to Z Services (Access Key = T ) Jump to Your Council (Access Key = Y ) Jump to A too Z site Index (Access Key = Z ) jump to Read Speaker functionality (Access Key = L) Jump to Printer Friendly Version (Access Key = F) Jump to Text Only (Access Key = J) Jump to Graphical (Access Key = K)

Home Do it Online Your Council Leisure Environment and Planning Business and Advice Community and Learning

Building Control | Cemeteries | Environment | Hengrove FAQ's | Housing | Land drainage and flooding | Planning Policy and Implementation | Development Control | Parking | Local Development Framework (Spelthorne Development Plan) | Planning | Permitted Development Rights | Pollution | Rubbish, recycling, garden waste and street cleaning | Street scene | Transport and travel | Making an application | Climate Change | Energy efficiency |

Air quality | Permitted processes | Land quality | Use of chemicals and their disposal | Light pollution | Statutory nuisance | Water quality

The installation of unsympathetically designed external lighting systems may adversely impact upon a neighbourhood by causing 'sky glow', glare to road users, and the admission of intrusive light into windows of neighbouring properties.
What can be done to minimise light pollution? Light pollution is a rapidly growing phenomenon, which unlike noise and dust is not considered in law to be a nuisance, which can be regulated through environmental protection legislation. Whilst it may cause as much distress as intrusive noise and fumes there is very little recourse to the law to stop your neighbour from shining light at your property. However, recent legal actions have demonstrated that the law is now starting to consider that light can be a problem and it may be possible to take out a private court case against a neighbour. This should only be considered as a last resort due to the expense and the animosity it will cause between you and your neighbour. Try showing your neighbour the Institution of Lighting Engineers' leaflet "Domestic Security Lighting, Friend or Foe?" which can be downloaded from their website at www.ile.org.uk
Graphical Version l  Text Only 
Contact Us l  A-Z Index l  Site Map 

© Spelthorne Copyright 2003   l  Privacy Policy l  Terms & conditions l  Translate l  Accessibility