Street lights making sleep difficult- too bright

[Streetlightarebright]

Moved into new townhouse a few months ago. It’s in a quiet residential street. There is one streetlight in the whole street which is bang opposite my house. At night the street is lit up like a football stadium and despite having blackout blinds (custom made so fit the windows perfectly) it shines really brightly into my bedroom. Because it’s a townhouse and my bedroom is on the third floor it’s level with the streetlight so that doesn’t help.

I contacted the council and they replied saying they can put a shade on it but I’d have to pay £95 😲😲 their reason being the streetlight was changed over to these fancy LED lights in 2017 so I’m responsible for paying (we moved in about 6 months ago)

I’m quite annoyed that they expect me to pay. It’s disrupting my sleep and the light is excessively bright. Has anyone ever contacted their council & got them to put a shade in for free? I’m wondering if there are any good arguments I could use?

It really is disrupting my sleep even with the blackout blind ☹️

We had the same problem with a new and taller street light - it felt like a full moon every night. I was sticking black paper onto the glass each evening! However blackout curtains have solved the problem.

How many years are you expecting to stay in your house ie how many pence per night for a good night's sleep?

I would either pay it or buy black out curtains (really good ones) as well as your blinds and get an eye mask. Either way its going to cost money.

There’s a street light right outside our bedroom window and we don’t have blackout blinds. There is a shade on it though and it doesn’t interfere with our sleep. I’d get them to put a shade on it and pay if you have to.

If you don't want to pay the £95 then point your local councillor towards the savings made by various councils by turning off streetlights overnight

We have a horrible new LED lamp outside but it's off from midnight to 5.30am, possibly 6am and it makes a huge difference.

@Streetlightarebright

Sorry I DONT need comments about blackout lining

Then your thread is pointless because your blackout linings are obviously not working.

Councils shouldn’t be getting away with this. Interrupting sleep has health implications.

LED lights if all kinds are just too bright. Even those for domestic use.

We had this issue but the electricity company added the shades for free. We did ask for them when they installed them though.

Previous owner had climbed up and painted over the glass on the old ones. That solution was better! Though the shades helped.

We had them front and back of house!

You live in a 3 story townhouse you're clearly not short or a bob or two, just pay the money

I knew someone with this problem. Someone kept shooting out the bulb with an bb gun.

Blinds will let light down the sides. If you have blackout curtains too, it'll 'catch' any light that gets through.
I have a streetlamp outside my window and the blinds and curtains does the trick. My curtains are floor length, too.

We have recently moved into a new house with a streetlight outside. We have no curtains yet but the blind is fine. I can imagine that with curtains on top it will be 100% blackout... I'm not sure what other solution you're expecting. Pay for the shade and get some curtains! Done.

I have very expensive made to measure blackout blinds too. They let light in around the edges, as pp say. The only way to block out all the light is thick, heavy curtains over your blinds.

Personally I’d just pay the £95.

This works

Unimi 3D Sleep Mask, Total... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082WVS2FF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I have a LED light outside my window,we got blackout binds (custom made) didn't work so we got the lined curtains too from next - also custom made - no issues now whatsoever- but cost more than £95...

£95 for sleep. I'd pay. Fact is it's been there longer than you. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@YerAWizardHarry

You live in a 3 story townhouse you're clearly not short or a bob or two, just pay the money

What on earth, a 3 storey townhouse isn't necessarily some great indicator of wealth? It's not like OP said the light was disrupting her sleep in her 6 bed country mansion.

But would the shade actually make it that much better if it's that bright? Ask them for an example of one locally and have a look at it.

Sounds awful, tbh I would pay £95, get it sorted and move on ! Though I get it seems unfair, councils should really consider the impact of street lighting and do it more sensitively. If you don't want to pay the £95 contact your local councillor and see if they can fight your corner

@Streetlightarebright

Sorry I DONT need comments about blackout lining

it's the most obvious solution. Blinds are never enough, you do need blackout curtains too. No one has suggested that you relocate your bedroom!

You can also pay the £95, but there's no guarantee the shade will be enough.

95 quid and its sorted.

I’d knock out the bulb with an air rifle I’m afraid.

We have a massive a irony light on a public building at the bottom of our garden. I have blinds a s blackout curtain. On occasions I find that isn't enough so have an eye mask just for going off to sleep - I tend to take it off during the night.

OP I'm not sure what you are wanting to hear. I feel you need to help yourself here.

Could you apply reflective film to your windows, (you would be still able to see out)

This sort of stuff - this is not a recommendation but just to illustrate what you might be able to get.

www.ebay.co.uk/i/173859904152?chn=ps&var=472617833160&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=472617833160_173859904152&targetid=1003232595598&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045819&campaignid=10199638297&mkgroupid=101938342477&rlsatarget=aud-381667281083:pla-1003232595598&abcId=1145987&merchantid=6995734&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-rj9BRCAARIsANB_4AAr-zGVoBjbNeZ0O2-i0AnocRmYpw99Fbc5sV_H4KnjVL1wOJVPKqQaArzBEALw_wcB