Lamp post right outside my bedroom window

[elm26]

We've just moved to a new build and the lamp post that is directly outside my bedroom window is on all night, my room is so light and I'm having trouble sleeping, I am short of money after moving and having to buy new white goods as both our washing machine and fridge freezer broke within 3 weeks of each other so I can't get a black out blind until next month.

Does anyone know who I would contact about this? Or any cheap temporary solution?

I can't sleep with an eye mask on either.

I would contact the council and hopefully they will sort it :). As someone else suggested, see if you can get one those blackout blinds second hand. I have the Tommee Tippee ones which we've used for about 4 years! They work really well.

@coffeenomore I'm not a shift worker no, it doesn't affect me in the day I just didn't know that street lamps are on 24 hours a day!

They should be off during the day when it’s daylight but they absolutely will and should be on all night, for safety if nothing else

@coffeenomore I have sciatica and issues with my back after 2 failed epidurals. I couldn't sleep on cushions or a blow up bed.

Firstly, Id ask on local FB groups or freecycle groups if anyone is giving away black our curtains.
Love the ad placing on this thread btw!

Aluminium foil taped onto the window works brilliantly

Point a laser pointer at the sensor on top of the lamppost and tell it that it's still daylight and tape the pointer in place.
(It does actually work but is not at all practical)
Or just get some tin foil on your window

Would something like this do as a temporary measure?

amzn.eu/d/bIMF9AG

Blackout liners for your curtains, available from Dunelm and attach to the curtain hooks you have so no sewing required

Paper temporary blackout blind - cheap as chips. They have them in dunelm I think

Or kids black craft paper stuck to windows

A day burner should be reported to the council but it won't change your night issue.

Other people have given helpful replies. If you read them, you might get some ideas for other threads.

In our area street lamps turn off between 1 and about 4.30ish, depending on the time of year.
On other streets, residents have got together and requested the street lamps be turned off earlier I think.
There are definitely options to explore if you want to, although getting blackout blinds once you are able to might be easier.
Was going to suggest tin foil too in the meantime.

Congrats on your house!

This.

I’d expect it to be on all night and it’s not keeping you awake during the day. There’s one outside our house and I don’t even notice it.

Contact your council regarding light pollution, they can fit shields to street lights to reduce this if you insist. Blackout curtains are very effective, and both combined may allow sleep. Good luck

We live next to a large road with lots of lamp posts. Blackout curtains are
the answer. In summer they cool the room down.
Don't expect the council to do anything.

Google the name of your local council and Street Lighting. Many councils have an online form or contact details to report broken lights or permantently on lights. My council has a live map which shows all the street lights and you can select the affected one(s) and it also shows lights where problems have been reported. It is not in the council interest to have lights on unnecessarily so most will offer easy ways to report. As previously suggested the council have means to improve the light emission from the lamp, if there is not a specific means of reporting, the council will likely have a general reporting forum for issues, but your local councillor should also be able to help and failing that try Environmental Health department

You didn't think lamp posts stay on all night? Really?

IKEA have really cheap blackout curtains £12 - thermal too
BENGTA
Block-out curtain, 1 length, 210x250

Cardboard in the windows at nighttime till you can afford a blind. Cut them to size to fit tightly.

As a pp suggested, your local council, depends on who is the local council, who pays for the streetlighting, or what other organization does.

Streetlighting doesn't come for free and most councils are happy to reduce costs by requesting night 'turn-off'. Just find out who is footing the streetlighting bill.

People are so unsympathetic!

Can you get some blackout blinds? Tin foil will do the trick, or black card blu-tacked to the glass.

If you have curtains then put a blanket over the top and drape a couple of scarves at each end. That helps keep the light out.