A Cardenden man says he is being left in the dark as to why security lights are being allowed to shine into his bedroom.
Gilbert McGovern claims he is unable to sleep at night because of lights attached to the local primary school.
The Carden Avenue resident has been in dialogue with Fife Council for years over the issue but has had no joy in convincing the local authority to either move or shade the lights to prevent them shining into his property.
“There’s been a problem since the school was built,” he said. “It happens at all times of day and night and the lights from the building shine right into my bedroom.
“There’s meant to be a sensor that switches them off at 9.30pm. However, there are food deliveries and milk vans arriving at 4am and 5am and it keeps setting the lights off.”
Cardenden Primary School was opened in August 2010 and, like most schools, has security lights installed on the building to reduce its vulnerability to vandalism.
However, the angles at which they have been installed, coupled with sensors that detect nearby movement, mean that the lights are frequently activated at night, shining directly into Mr McGovern’s home.
Although he acknowledges the purpose of them, Mr McGovern says that following a hip replacement operation in 2010 he already has difficulties in being able to sleep soundly at night.
“I don’t get much sleep as it is and the light going off is the last thing I need,” he continued.
“Other people are concerned as well. There are about four houses affected. It’s like somebody putting on your bedroom light in the middle of the night.
“I spoke to somebody at the council and they told me to buy blackout curtains.”
David Taylor, secretary of Cardenden Community Council, was contacted by Mr McGovern regarding lighting at the school.
He added that despite dialogue with the local authority, Fife Council still had work to do to satisfy Mr McGovern and other residents.
“This should be really simple to rectify,” Mr Taylor said. “The lights just need to be pointed down a bit or have deflectors fitted but it’s just not happening.
“It’s not just Mr McGovern, other people have been complaining as well. We have been in contact with Fife Council for a while now but they’re just not prepared to act.”
However, the local authority has defended its stance on the lights, saying that it has worked with local residents but that they must remain in place.
Dawn Cook, capital programme team manager, said: “The lights at Cardenden Primary school were designed to ensure the safety and security of all pupils and staff and to help prevent vandalism out of hours.
“We have worked with local residents and councillors to mitigate any adverse effects from this lighting on the neighbouring houses.
“However, it is important that these lights continue to operate to ensure the ongoing safety and security of the building users.”