Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Noise annoys… but the experts are on the case
BARKING dogs to rowdy neighbours to clock tower bells – there are not many types of noise complaints environmental health officer Shaun Fudge has never dealt with.
With more than 20 years’ experience handling such issues, Mr Fudge, who has also had to deal with the odd complaint over noisy love-making, admits nothing surprises him anymore.
He and his team of seven officials at South Gloucestershire Council dealt with a total of 868 complaints last year, which is the equivalent of more than two a day.
And while many people might expect immediate action by the authority, Mr Fudge says he will never be “overzealous” in his role, which he adds is often being an intermediary between parties.
Only in extreme cases will he use powerful legislation, such as the issuing of new Community Protection Notices, which came in as part of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The notices are used when there is “detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality” and they come with the threat of a hefty £2,500 fine if not followed.
“Some people think we have a
Some people think we have a magic wand… but we would never be overzealous
SHAUN FUDGE
magic wand,” said Mr Fudge, who is based in the council’s offices in Badminton Road, Yate.
“But we would never be overzealous with the use of available legislation.
“The only cases where we would look to use such actions are those of extreme behaviour; we are not going to serve it on an elderly lady who is out feeding her birds.
“We will always go into cases looking for an immediate resolution. We will not take anyone’s side because at the end of the day we want to be there to help all parties.”
There are, however, instances when more severe action is required beyond a discussion and warning.
Last year, the council served 16 CPNs.
They included some from Mr Fudge’s team including cases involving loud music and dogs barking.
One centred on a terraced home in Yate where a complaint was made by a neighbour to the council last April over loud parties being held in the garden that lasted until the early hours of the morning.
The complainant was asked to keep a written log of the disturbance and use a mobile phone application which can record noise for evidence.
Mr Fudge’s team issued a community protection warning after an officer visited the complainant’s property at night.
The incident came towards the end of the summer months, and the problem has not re-emerged this year.
“The notice and the threat of fines and court action led to a change of behaviour, we believe,” said Mr Fudge. “It is a good example of when the powers can be used and when they work. We were pleased with the outcome.”
It is not always so straightforward for the team, though.
Last year, after a CPN was issued for excessive dog barking at a property, the problem continued and the case against the owner was brought before Bristol Magistrates’ Court.
In response to being summoned to the courts, the owner signed an Acceptable Behaviour Contract and the issue went away, although legal costs for the council would have had to be paid.
Thankfully, in almost all cases, no such action is required.
In Page Park, Staple Hill, people living around the site complained about the use of a clock tower, which had rung at quarter past the hour for more than 100 years throughout the day and night.
After discussions with the council’s StreetCare team, the park friends’ group and Mr Fudge and his team, the chimes now only sound between 7am and 11pm.
“More often than not it takes a discussion for an issue to be resolved,” said Mr Fudge.
“Sometimes we get complaints over neighbours and when I ask ‘have you spoken to them?’ they say ‘no’. It would be much easier and less awkward for them if they talked to them first before coming to us.
“Most of the time people are unaware of the noise disruption they are causing and, once told,
16 Number of protection notices issued last year in South Glos
will change. It is only in the minority of cases when we have to seriously get involved.”
As the summer months continue, with their long evenings, Mr Fudge says this is his team’s busiest time, but it is a job he and his colleagues still enjoy.
He said: “It can be a challenge, but we all knew what job we got ourselves in for, and the rewards for sorting out situations carefully and sensitively are great.”