We used to have a farmhouse in France about a mile from the local village. One year we had a letter from the ‘Mairie’ asking for our share of the fund to pay for 6 new street lights going up in the village. I commented on this to the mayor who knew of my stargazing activities and he said that if I was going to observe I should ring him up and he would switch the lights off! Not sure this would work in the UK….
Len Adam