Noisy neighbours create record complaint levels
Noisy neighbours are sparking record numbers of complaints, as a council crackdown continues to land offenders in the dock.
Official figures seen by The Herald reveal 1,738 complaints have been lodged about noise nuisances in the last year – up by around 300 on the previous 12 months and the highest number on record.
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The council is now using specialist recording equipment to spy on loud households in a bid to build up evidence. It can also seize stereos, games consoles, speakers and any other booming devices that may be causing a headache for neighbours.
The local authority has taken legal action against more people in the first six months of this year than it did during the whole of the last. A total of 42 noise abatement notices have been issued as “warning shots” to culprits in the first six months of this financial year, said the city’s environment chief, Councillor Brian Vincent.
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Last year the council’s public protection service issued 40.
The latest city resident to find themselves in the dock was Robert Baker, 40, of Howe Street, who last week was fined and had his hi-fi and television set confiscated after plaguing his neighbours for months with music and singing.
“Noisy and anti-social neighbours can make life hell for some people,” said Cllr Vincent, the council’s Cabinet member for the environment.
“The number of abatement notices has increased. These are warning shots for people to quieten down and be more aware of the noise they are making. For most people this is enough and they quieten down. But if they do not we will take further legal action – and we do.”
Five cases are currently pending at court, Cllr Vincent said.
The council will not release precise details of the nature of individual complaints. But most are about loud music, shouting, barking dogs and commercial noise such as ringing fire alarms or banging from building sites.
Figures show how there were 1,141 complaints about domestic-related incidents in the financial year 2011/2012 – a rise from 915 in 2010/2011. A further 367 were received about nuisance dogs and 230 about noise from commercial or leisure premises. In total, 1,738 were received for the year 2011/2012, an increase of almost 300 on 2010/2011’s figure of 1,441.
Those caught dodging warnings can find themselves hauled before a court, hit with a £5,000 fine or even an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).
The maximum fine for business or industrial offenders is £20,000.
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