Soloula

Yip so inconsiderate. The irony is that I'm in Scotland so covered by the high hedges laws. If I planted leylandii and allowed them to grow high enough to block the lights, they'd also be casting shadows into their garden so I'd need to get them cut back. So they're entitled to enjoy their garden but I can't take measures to enjoy mine... And my garden is too small for leylandii. My parents have just cut theirs down now my dad's too infirm for stargazing. The amount of space they've reclaimed is crazy. He'd planted them to block a neighbours security light. Fortunately their neighbour was in a plot downhill not next door with lights shining down like we're taking centre stage on the west end. 😞

Thanks Peter. I'm not about to be petty or inconsiderate as that's not me, as tempting as it is. Just less considerate iykwim. Less thinking of others who couldn't care less and just putting ourselves first. I'm a people pleaser which sometimes leaves me disappointed. You'd think I'd learn... I'm hopeful we can still get out and do some kind of astronomy. At least we're south facing so our lunar views should be reasonable uninterrupted. Thanks for the links for suggestions Tiny. I'm not sure how well screening would work due to the height of the lights but will have a proper look through the thread after. Loving your observatory pad Alan. And jealous of a garden big enough to allow you to do that lol. A photo of the offending lights to give you an idea of what I'm dealing with.

Thanks again. Unfortunately it looks like we might not be getting anywhere. Environmental health phoned. The guy was really lovely and sympathetic but says the legislation is clear that it’s only really for light shining in windows etc. Same with noise - has to be how it bothers you inside the house, not the garden. So although it says a nuisance in your property, it means in the home. Speaking to his wife won’t make any difference as she had resolved it until he stepped in and she’s obviously just stood aside and let him deal with it. Tbh I think that’s part of his issue with me - I think he’s one of these men that doesn’t like strong willed women...he called me a control freak which was really nice when I’ve been nothing but amicable and tried to find a solution that means we both get to enjoy our gardens how we wish. He’s got two daughters as well - so setting a great example. Environmental health is sending a letter. I figured once the name calling started next door had burnt his bridges and there’s no harm seeing if a letter would make any difference. It will be advising that they’ve had a report and asking them to reconsider if their lighting options are the best for their needs but that’s as much as he can do. He says they get a surprisingly decent response but I’m not hopeful. Unfortunately I think the lunar/solar observing might be my limit and a dark skies trip might be on the cards for anything else like you’ve said Alan. Do I have any other options? My dad said something about a tent? I’ll go out tonight and take a photo so you can see what I’m dealing with and maybe make suggestions. We got a movie projector for the garden a few months back and have a managed to set up our Bose speakers for decent sound. Were out for my youngest’s 5th birthday last month and I checked with neighbour if it was too loud. Won’t be doing that again. I’m so [removed word] off today at all the times I’ve gone out my way to be considerate - not listening to music in the garden when the suns out and they’re out, not letting the kids make too much noise in the garden past 6.30 when their wee ones go down, holding off lighting the bbq until they bring their washing in. I feel like such a mug going out of my way to be decent and then I get treated like this. Lesson learned.

Thanks so much for the replies. I’ve phoned environmental health this morning and am waiting for an officer to phone me back. Sorry to hear others have had to deal with this too. It’s so frustrating. I don’t object to my neighbour having a light but what he’s put up is totally not proportionate to his needs. I appreciate the advice Ships. My neighbour is next door, to the side, rather than behind us so the light is more of an issue for our enjoyment of the garden than anything else. Would be much easier to deal with I think if it was shining into our bedrooms. I’m going to push the nuisance angle as much as I can. I read a case this morning in Scotland under the new nuisance regs where someone had to change their light because it was affecting night fishing in the river beside so I’m hopeful. Our garden is our sanctuary, especially atm when going out and doing other things we enjoy is limited with COVID restrictions. We are on the edge of a housing estate, on a hill, with one neighbour below us whose few lights are shielded by their leylandii and fields beyond them. We had no lights in our back garden. It was as good as you could get at the edge of a busy town for stargazing. Then eejit next door got his four lights put up. When I asked him why he said security. No one overlooks our garden so no one to report anything. I don’t know how he thinks it’s more secure. All he’s doing is lighting the way for any burglars. I’m also concerned about the light trespass as you say Ships, as it affects the security of our property. Previously a burglar would have had to get a torch out which would look well dodgy but our house is now lit enough to see but not enough to be seen iykwim so I’ll pursue this angle too. The annoying thing as well is his wife got an electrician out and got a quote to change the timer to a switch so I could ask them to turn it off when I’m going out. We had it all sorted and I was even going to pay just to keep the peace so we could enjoy our garden again and he’s just decided to dig his heels in. Why do people behave like that?

Hi first post so hope this is in the right board.... My neighbour has just had four big spotlight dusk till dawn lights installed in the eaves of his house. It's like floodlights and I nearly cried when I saw them as the light pollution from them is terrible. They're not budging on switching them off when we're out. Is there anything we can do? Will the council deal with this as light pollution affecting the enjoyment of our property? Can I buy something to sit in/put out to block it out, although they're so high up and cover the full length of their garden that I don't know if this is possible? I was due to get my dad's 6" refractor telescope this year but now it feels like theres no point. Its not exactly portable to jump in the car and take it elsewhere as my lovely neighbour suggested My kids will be gutted too. We often sit out with some hot chocolate and binoculars stargazing. Any advice to a newbie would be much appreciated.