BUSINESSMAN Peter Holliday is furious – after switching off his security lighting to comply with a council planning ruling, opportunist burglars struck.
"It just made it so easy for them," said the proprietor of The Window Shop at Nailbridge, Cinderford.
"They even parked outside the front of the shop and emptied a car ashtray there on the pavement. They've taken a computer as well as all the damage."
And he said to make matters the council's enforcement officer called in just as the police were going over the scene of crime.
"He didn't say why he was calling. He just looked at all the broken glass and incident tape and when I said it was a result of not lighting the premises he just said it was a coincidence, and left."
Mr Holliday said he had installed the lights at the shop, which is located on a triangular island with roads on all sides, five years ago.
"I didn't even know you needed planning permission for security lighting," he said. "It was news to me – it just came out of the blue, and I was told I would have to apply retrospectively which meant an £80 outlay.
"I thought it might be just a matter of course, because we already have permission to build a kitchen extension at the back, put up a sign telling the sort of work we do and a flagpole.
"It was a shock when the appeal was rejected. It seems someone thought the lights were really for another purpose, lighting up our fascia board. I offered to lower them so that the sign didn't show but they were adamant they had to go.
"When I asked what I should do about security it was suggested I leave the lights on inside the lock-up, which I did – but after talking to security people it seems its was the last thing I should have done.
"As soon as we cleared up after the robbery I had an alarm system installed. But the advisers still say the best possible thing I could do is have security lights."
Spokesman for the Forest of Dean District Council planning department Martin Hillier said they regarded the lights as illumination for the shop's title and not a security installation.
"As such it is a form of advertising and needs consent," he said.
Although the Highways Department had not opposed the lights on grounds that they distracted drivers, they did point out at the inquiry that the road outside is well lit, with lights throughout the hours of darkness.
He had a duty to protect the amenity of the approach to Cinderford, which has been designated a Special Landscape Area.
And he said Mr Holliday could if he wished install the sort of lights that switch on when people walked past – they did not need planning permission.