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Need advice on complaining to Council over light: what are my rights?

Hope

 

On another thread, I started a discussion called 'light trespass'. The situation has still not been resolved, despite shields being fitted. I was told the lights would switch off at midnight - they did not; it was 1am when they were switched off. I go to bed at 11pm, at the latest, and can't get to sleep until the lights are switched off. I have black out blinds, curtains, and black out lining, but they don't work with these new super tall, fluorescent lights. I have complained by phone to the council, but got a shoddy response. I have written a letter to the Chief Executive of the Council, and wait her response, and I have written to my MP for an appointment.

What can I do in the meantime? I am suffering from sleep deprivation and stress; I can't block the light out, just like I can't block noise out. I think this is caused by my Aspergers, but it does not affect me quite so much in the day - perhaps because I can distract myself. I also have chronic anxiety, which is worse under stress.

Are they breaking the law with regard to indirect disability discrimination by not taking into account sensory disturbances? Why do we need lights on until 1am? What are 'normal' people doing at that time? It seems we have 24/7 noise, 24/7 light - an Orwellian nightmare, my room turned into a torture chamber.

The council have subcontracted their lighting to SSE contracting, and I don't know who is responsible for what!. A bureaucratic quagmire of faceless mandarins in a corrupt system.

I welcome your advice.

Parents

  • Thanks for your response Smile.

    First in reply to Longman: I am afraid I can't move into a spare bedroom or space because I live in a one bedroom flat. The only other option would be to sleep in the sitting room - not possible because it is even brighter here! - or the walk in cupboard, but this does not have windows, so is airless.

    I live in a low crime area, so I am not so sure that crime would be as big an issue as many suggest, if the lights were turned off. I think we live in a security state, which encourages paranoia and a lack of trust, and I think it would be better to address the causes of crime.

    Trying to complain has been horrendously difficult. I keep getting passed round and round, with the Council saying that SSE are reponsible for the lights, and SSE saying that the council is responsible for when the lights are turned off, so I need to go back to them!.  When I told the Council that SSE had turned the lights off at midnight for me, but they ended up being on until 1am, they simply said that SSE should not have done this without consulting the Council!. No concern for my plight at all.I am following through with the formal complaints process, and if need be will take it to the parliamentary ombudsman.

    crystal12: I bought some eye shades yesterday, from Clare's Accessories (everywhere else had sold out) as an emergency measure. They worked wonders. It took a while to get used to wearing them, but the pure darkness triggered sleep almost right away, and I slept intensely, with vivid dreams!. I have not slept this well for a long time!

    I will carry on my fight back today, more refreshed, by visiting the Council offices and getting the complaint in motion.

Reply

  • Thanks for your response Smile.

    First in reply to Longman: I am afraid I can't move into a spare bedroom or space because I live in a one bedroom flat. The only other option would be to sleep in the sitting room - not possible because it is even brighter here! - or the walk in cupboard, but this does not have windows, so is airless.

    I live in a low crime area, so I am not so sure that crime would be as big an issue as many suggest, if the lights were turned off. I think we live in a security state, which encourages paranoia and a lack of trust, and I think it would be better to address the causes of crime.

    Trying to complain has been horrendously difficult. I keep getting passed round and round, with the Council saying that SSE are reponsible for the lights, and SSE saying that the council is responsible for when the lights are turned off, so I need to go back to them!.  When I told the Council that SSE had turned the lights off at midnight for me, but they ended up being on until 1am, they simply said that SSE should not have done this without consulting the Council!. No concern for my plight at all.I am following through with the formal complaints process, and if need be will take it to the parliamentary ombudsman.

    crystal12: I bought some eye shades yesterday, from Clare's Accessories (everywhere else had sold out) as an emergency measure. They worked wonders. It took a while to get used to wearing them, but the pure darkness triggered sleep almost right away, and I slept intensely, with vivid dreams!. I have not slept this well for a long time!

    I will carry on my fight back today, more refreshed, by visiting the Council offices and getting the complaint in motion.

Children
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