100,000 alerts to councils over noise nuisance

Just 0.5pc of complaints end with court action

NEIGHBOURS WHO have plagued householders with unsociable behaviour have led to almost 100,000 complaints about noise to councils in Yorkshire since 2016 – yet just 149 cases have resulted in court action.

Figures obtained by The Yorkshire Post under the Freedom of Information Act show that 98,505 noise complaints were made to local authorities from 2016 to October this year, with loud music, barking dogs, and domestic noise among the biggest problems.

But despite saying they take nuisance noise and the blight it has on people’s lives seriously, the region’s councils issued just 2,613 noise abatement notices requiring those responsible to stop – and less than half of one per cent ended up in court action.

Leeds City Council received the highest number of nuisance noise complaints over the period, with 23,350 in total – 9,735 in 2016, 10,341 last year and 3,274 up to March this year. Over the whole period, it served 1,095 noise abatement notices and took court action in just eight cases.

A spokesperson said the council uses “every tool” at its disposal to put a stop to the blight of noise nuisance on communities. The authority claims tackling nuisance noise is a “top priority” and it has seen encouraging results since launching an enhanced service in 2014 to deal with the issue.

“We’ve found that the issuing of Noise Abatement Notices, for example, has proved to be a positive deterrent in stopping this problem, alongside other measures such as the seizure of equipment, before we decide to prosecute, which is always a last resort,” the spokesman said. “We will not hesitate however to take this step through the courts if necessary and appropriate.”

Kirklees had the second highest number of complaints, with 10,691 over the period, but had a higher prosecution level than Leeds, with 29 cases making it to court, and 171 noise abatement

notices. The council said it aims to resolve issues using a restorative approach, but where this does not work, it will take action, including seizing equipment, which is then redistributed to charities were appropriate.

The cabinet member for communities and environment, Coun Naheed Mather, said the council recognises the “significant impact” that noise can have on people’s well-being.

He added: “What does make Kirklees effective in the dealing with noise complaints is the outof-hours provision it provides for its customers. At the time of local authority budget constraints, the council believes that keeping this service is a priority for our residents.”

Nuisance noise is not confined to urban areas, with those in living in rural communities also blighted by neighbours. In Hambleton, 807 complaints were made, resulting in just one abatement notice, while residents in Craven made 511 complaints, with three notices issues, and in Ryedale, more than 200 of the 304 complaints concerned barking dogs, with one notice issued.