Vocal Voices

During the week ours have been converted to LEDs. They give a "Moonish" glow to the street and their light is very bright and direct, and therein lies the problem - or two.

The lamp post is right opposite my bedroom window and boy is it bright! Also, it is off to right so the side of the flat and the steps are now in complete darkness after sundown, unlike with the old bulbs and their diffused light. The PIR light does not come on until I am right at the door so I have had to buy a couple of keyring torches to light the steps.

I like the new lights, but there were unintended consequences with their upgrade.

If you're being seriously inconvenienced by the new LED street light shining into your bedroom window, you could speak to the council street lighting department - there could be a simple fix by installing a back plate to cut out the glare.
Some councils do recognise it can be a problem, despite an insistence that the new light is mainly focussing downwards, and everything's done to "British Standard", blah, blah.
However, I see your street lighting in Leeds is sub-contracted to SSE, and looking at other council's websites who use them, I believe they will charge you personally an arm and a leg for any alterations.

As for losing the light up your path to the front door, most councils' response is "Tough, ain't our problem", I'm afraid ....

We had ours done here a couple of years back. They are certainly taller than the old ones, and my personal view was they weren't much of an improvement out on the street. One light does create more of a glare into our side toilet window, but we have frosted glass and a fully lowered roller blind, so we've got used to it. They turn all the lights off here at midnight, anyway!

Frank, I agree with Ossie - contact the council. We had new street lights installed a few years back and the one lit up my bedroom like it was daylight; it was horrid. I put a call into the council and within 3 days they had a backing plate / cowl fitted and it's worked a charm. And you shouldn't have to pay - not when it's something that has a huge impact on your life

I think you have both read me wrong slightly.

The light outside the bedroom is bright, especially with open curtains, but once the curtains are closed it's liveable.

The main problem is that the new lights are more like searchlights and very direct, downwards, their beams not fanning out sideways like the old ones. The light from them used to "creep" onto the steps and partially light them - no more, sadly.

The torches do a grand job, but a new solar PIR might be in order.

Ahhhhh...... now I understand

Yes, new light may be needed