Floodlights that don't need planning permission!

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RJ W

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Hiya just want advice on floodlights for my 20x60 arena! They don't have to be amazing, just give off enough light to do some flatwork on those dark evenings! Cant be anything that the local council would see as "permanent" as I know I wouldn't get permission for them! So what do you recommend that is moveable (if needs be) and bright enough for that size arena? and how many of them? any help and advice would be greatly appreciated as I can't seem to find much! thanks!
 
I had three 'security' lights along the side of my barn - just the £10 job from B&Q and they worked plenty well enough to do a bit of flat work - and were only on one side.
If anyone had ever asked they were there for security and just happened to come on as I was riding past - there's no planning for security lights if the number and brightness of some of them I've seen is anything to go by.
 
Id speak to the council personally. When we built our school we were categorically refused lights. When we built both our yards (2 different locations) they were really strict about the the kind of lighting we could use on the yard. Light pollution is taken pretty seriously by the council. They are funny wot nots, so in my experience its best to work with them rather than upsetting them and/or neighbours :-) (ive heard of some sort of temporary lights which you put up and take down when you need them which i believe dont need planning but dont quote me on this)
 
there are some lights available on collapsible poles which may be useful, the poles swing down in line with the rails of the fence when not in use. A google will no doubt throw up the details
 
A few people I know use a few high watt task lights and they are happy with them, as far as I know not had probs with planning. They don't put them on poles though, four of them placed around the arena outside the fence (depends on size of arena though!)
 
How about lights placed at ground/dressage-board height and angled to throw light across the school. Then there is no visible lamp-post 10' up in the air shining light down at the ground with all that light pollution. I would think the light pollution from ground-level lights would be far less intrusive to neighbours.
 
I have a 150W metal halide security light which is currently on the side of my barn. I am about to move it to the tree by the school to get it closer and higher. I also have 2 50W LED lights on tripods which live in the barn and I bring out and plug in (13A sockets around arena). If they are not fixed down and have a plug, they are considered temporary. Somebody near here uses their car and tractor headlights to illuminate their school. I did look at the lights which fold down (either telescope or swing), but it would be hard to deny having them if the council Environmental Health ever did show up.
 
thanks everyone! will look into all those things now! its such a grey area! Although i know low level lights cause shadows!
 
Apparently festooning your house in Christmas lights complete with team of plastic light up reindeers on the lawn is perfectly ok so if your house looks over your arena that could be an option :p
 
WelshD said:
Apparently festooning your house in Christmas lights complete with team of plastic light up reindeers on the lawn is perfectly ok so if your house looks over your arena that could be an option :p
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Hahahahaha, I can see my horse running a mile after catching a look at a flashing reindeer!!!

We have got "security" lights too, I would not jump using them but I have just lunged and they were plenty good enough. We put some poles up in the corners, a pole and 3 big bolts through the fence in each corner, and a friendly electrician put them up for £150.
 
To be honest, halogen security flood lights do the job very well and if you position them cleverly, no-one would even know / notice them. 3 down one side would more than likely give you enough light for a schooling session of an evening but will give you a few darker spots. 'tempoarary' is a very vague term... you could power them by generator which would make them temporary... ;)
 
The other factor to bear in mind is that you will be using your lights in the dark, in the winter. Council staff are not around then. In fact, from my dealings with my local Planning Dept, you are pretty safe after 330, 1230 on a Friday!
 
case895 said:
The other factor to bear in mind is that you will be using your lights in the dark, in the winter. Council staff are not around then. In fact, from my dealings with my local Planning Dept, you are pretty safe after 330, 1230 on a Friday!
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Never thought about that!
 
I wouldn't put them at low level as they are likely to dazzle your pony - they need to be up higher to avoid this. And speaking from experience, Im afraid the walls have got ears (or eyes) and you'll be surprised how nosey people are and many people have nothing better to do than dob on others. I was on the receiving end of a neighbour telling tales to the council, and sure enough, we had a nice lady from the planning dept in a beige mac and wellies knocking at our door one day. Honestly, im sure there are people who wait at their window looking for things to happen that they can get on the phone to the council and stir things up a bit. I'm now on livery, and if we use the lights past a certain time in the evening the neighbours across the field actually ring up the yard owners (who live off site) !! Seriously, there are eyes everywhere . . . .
 
I didn't get planning for lighting around our arena at home. I have something like this;

http://www.hss.com/g/57137/VT1-Lighting-Tower.html

If you erect permanent lighting, even if you don't use them until after 'council' hours as previous posted mentioned, someone could complain, they will visit and see the permanent lights and could could be asked to remove them.

Good luck!
 
just bringing this back to life to see if anyone has had anymore idea's.

Found a lovely yard but only downside is no lights in school. YM was declined planning permission few years back and since all other liveries ride in day never pushed for any alternatives.

thanks
 
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