Noise

Environmental Health can:

• Advise on noise problems
• Help to resolve noise problems
• Take legal action where a statutory nuisance is found

First steps

Before making a formal complaint, we advise that you approach the person making the noise, especially if it is a neighbour.

• Don’t wait until the problem makes you angry.
• See your neighbour and talk about how the problem is affecting you.
• Don’t be aggressive. This will only make matters worse.
• Try to keep your discussion to the particular problem of the noise.
• Explain how the noise makes you feel. Do not blame or accuse. Your neighbour may not be aware how much their behaviour is affecting you.
• Above all stay calm and be polite.

The Council will respond to all complaints about noise, but we can only take formal action where we are satisfied that there is evidence of a ‘statutory’ nuisance, (and we are not excluded by law from acting).

Noise we can act on

• From homes including gardens
• From other buildings
• Land in general
• Vehicle alarms and equipment on parked vehicles

How to report noise nuisance

To report initial noise complaints call 01442 867866.  When you first contact us we will discuss your problem with you and give you advice on what action you can take.

Please note: as part of our continuing commitment to improving the quality of service provided, calls to the call centre may be recorded for training and service development purposes.

Our Procedures

We log all complaints and give them a reference number. After you have contacted us, we will, within 3 days, write to you and where appropriate, send you a complaint form and diary sheets to record any incidents. When we receive your written complaint form, we will write to the person you are complaining about, to inform them that we have had a complaint, and give them the opportunity to respond to us. We do this to be fair to everyone and because it often solves the problem.

If the problem does continue, we will ask you to continue to keep diary records to substantiate your complaint and return them to us. Use the diary sheets to record any noise incidents. This evidence may be used in court. We will not at this stage reveal your name. However sometimes it will be obvious and if we do have to go to court then your name will be revealed. (We have to prove nuisance to someone).

If we are satisfied that there is a statutory nuisance we will serve a notice requiring that the nuisance stop.This is an Abatement Notice. If the problem goes on, we can take action through the magistrate’s court. We usually require you to attend as a witness. In certain really serious cases, whether or not we prosecute, we can act by seizing or disabling the equipment.

If despite prosecution, the problem goes on, we may have to return to court. As long as the problem continues it is vital that you keep making diary records.

Diary Records

It is important that you keep an accurate record of any incidents when noise becomes a nuisance to you. This will be your evidence, which we must use if any legal action is taken.

We will supply you with diary sheets.

You need to record:

• The date and times when the nuisance occurs.
• The nature of the noise (from Hi-fi, TV etc).
• How the noise has affected you (eg unable to sleep).

Without this diary record we may not be able to help you. The diary sheets should be sent to us. The information will be used to assess the problem and to take any further action that may be necessary.