A Lincolnshire couple are experiencing ongoing sleep disturbances due to their neighbour’s persistent Christmas light display, which remains illuminated long after the festive season concluded.
Richard Bartlett and Caroline Levesque-Bartlett report that they’ve been compelled to invest in additional blackout blinds to mitigate the impact of the intensely bright lights, which operate continuously. Despite this effort, the couple states that the illumination is still visible and profoundly disruptive.
The property on St Andrew’s Drive features a variety of illuminated decorations, including ground-level lighting and a flashing Christmas tree atop the porch – all currently active. Initially, the couple expressed no concerns regarding the display’s installation.
As Bartlett explained to Lincolnshire Live: “We didn’t think anything of it when our neighbour initially put up their display; many people do so at Christmas. But most take theirs down around January 6th. Hers just kept going and going. It’s now April, and they’re still on constantly.”
He described the lights as “pretty intense LEDs” that are visible through both their living room and bedroom windows. The pulsing nature of the lights, even with blackout blinds in place, makes it difficult to sleep.
“You can’t just zone them out,” Bartlett stated.
The City of Lincoln Council has confirmed that the lights have now been switched off. Ben Jackson, Public Protection, Anti-Social Behaviour and Licensing Manager at the council, provided this statement:
“We are aware of this situation and had planned a visit to the complainant’s property on Monday evening, April 14th. However, we were informed that the lights have been switched off, and the meeting was subsequently cancelled. The complaint remains open should the issue resurface. We strongly advise residents to engage in conversations with their neighbours regarding any light-related concerns before lodging a formal complaint. Nevertheless, if resolution isn’t achieved through dialogue, we address such matters seriously and are prepared to intervene when necessary.”
The couple indicated they have repeatedly contacted the local authority, receiving inconsistent responses.
“One person suggested it could be considered anti-social behaviour, while another wasn’t convinced it reached the threshold of a nuisance. Someone is scheduled to revisit this week,” Levesque-Bartlett explained.
- The couple installed blackout blinds due to the intense lights
- The display includes ground and roof-mounted illuminated decorations
- The City of Lincoln Council has confirmed that the lights are now turned off
- The couple reported receiving mixed responses from the local authority
