Neighbour Noise Survey for Noise Action Week

Barking dogs, loud music and burglar alarms were among the top noise complaints made to the Council in 2007 so this year the Pollution team want to find out what people’s feelings are about noise in their environment.

As part of Noise Action Week, which runs from Monday, 19th to Friday, May 23rd, East Staffordshire Borough Council is running an interactive survey throughout the month on the Council’s website.

Residents are invited to give their views on the amount of nuisance noise in their neighbourhood and every entry will be added to a prize draw to win High Street Gift Vouchers.

If you would like to be included in the draw, please provide your contact details.

Noise Action Week is a national campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of noise and encourages people to consider the noise they make and what can be done to reduce it.

Councillor Malcolm Barrett, Deputy Leader for Environment, said: “Noise affects everyone and is part of our daily lives, but it can also be a source of distress.

“We all need to show a certain amount of tolerance as our lifestyles do differ, but we also need to be considerate and take reasonable steps to make sure we do not cause unnecessary disturbance to our neighbours.”

Communication between neighbours often resolves noise issues, although a degree of patience and support may be required when alleviating certain problems.

If the informal approach does not work, then the Council’s Pollution Team may be able to deal with the problem as a formal complaint.

The Council has a duty to establish whether the noise constitutes a Statutory Nuisance or not.

There are a number of factors taken into account when investigating a complaint such as the frequency, duration, location, and unreasonableness of the activity.  Officers do not use decibel levels to determine a Statutory Nuisance, however in certain circumstances the need for noise levels maybe desirable.

For more information click on the link to the Noise Action Week page on the ESBC homepage at www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk

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