Complaints about noise are increasing in many areas of the UK. The most common source of domestic noise in England is amplified music. Noisy pubs and clubs rate as the main source of complaint about ambient noise, followed by industry and construction.
Peaceful neighbourhoods depend on responsible behaviour by everyone. Selfish attitudes and an unreasonably high expectation of quiet are major reasons for sustained levels of noise complaint.
Environmental Protection UK provides a wide range of helpful information on noise which can be obtained via the following link :
http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/noise/neighbourhood-noise/nuisance/default.aspx
The following website provides further information on reducing noise in the home :
http://www.quieterhomes.org
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published a leaflet giving a range of advice on dealing with noise problems. Entitled "Bothered By Noise?", a copy can be downloaded here or from from the following web site, which also contains other useful information :
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/neighbour/suffer/index.htm
Noise Complaints in Gosport
Procedure : We must respond to complaints and follow strict guidelines when we investigate. This normally involves contacting the person accused of causing the problem based solely on the initial allegation. Some complaints are malicious or misguided and we regret any distress caused by our prelimary investigation.
If we obtain evidence of a serious problem we will take formal action, which can include serving an Abatement Notice, prosecution, fines and even seizing amplifiers, stereos, etc. In the case of barking dogs, where all other options have proved ineffective, we may even seize the animal and remove it to kennels.
We normally make up to three attempts to verify a complaint and if it cannot be justified there is nothing more we can do. This means that sometimes we are unable to resolve cases to the complainant's complete satisfaction. In such circumstances they may wish to consider taking their own legal action against the culprit.
Ongoing Complaints : If you have previously registered a complaint with the Council and would like to download an additional copy of our Noise Information Pack, or would like further information on the procedures we follow, please click here.
We have produced a leaflet explaining how we investigate noise complaints and the possible legal implications for the culprits. A copy of this can be downloaded here.
Enforcement Policy : The policy that we apply to our enforcement activity is available on request from our offices or to download from this web page. Questions regarding the General Enforcement Policy should be addressed to the Council’s Legal and Democratic Support Section (e-mail LADSadmin@gosport.gov.uk).
Intruder and Car Alarms
If you are bothered by a misfiring intruder alarm on a building or parked vehicle the Council can help.
Building Intruder Alarms are sometimes falsely activiated. Unless it is a type which is monitored through a central control room (for which an annual subscription fee is payable to an alarm company) the police will not normally attend unless there is evidence of a crime under way. This is because there are so many false alarms. The police will try to contact a key holder to ask that the alarm be silenced.
Keyholder Registration : If you have an un-monitored alarm on your property, whether domestic or commercial, you should nominate up to three keyholders. These will be people you trust and who are close enough to respond within 20 minutes. Hampshire Constabulary operates a registration scheme which is currently free. Further details are available by clicking
here. If you have previously registered your keyholders with the Borough Council you may wish to consider re-registering with the police.
Please note - if your alarm is connected to a monitoring company you should
not use this scheme since your keyholder details will already be on record.
Car Alarms : If you know the owner of the vehicle it is quicker to try and contact them to have the alarm silenced or re-set. If you notice anything suspicious, such as signs of a break in, call the police. If there seems to be no obvious cause, contact Environmental Health during office hours or the Council's Duty Officer at all other times on 023 9258 4242 (listen to the recorded message and then call the number provided). Alternatively, if it's not urgent, you can make a service request on line; click here for our normal contact details.
Action By The Council : If you ask us to deal with an alarm which is causing a nuisance we will try to locate a keyholder. In the case of a vehicle alarm we can establish the identity of the registered keeper through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
If we cannot trace a keyholder we will have to take steps to have the alarm silenced. For building alarms this first involves asking for a court Warrant to enter the premises. We then employ security experts to help us and the police will also attend. We may have to damage a lock or window, or even the alarm itself, but will leave the property secure when we've finished. The owner is liable for all costs. This is why it is so important to nominate local keyholders who can act when you are unavailable.
We will try to silence a misfiring car alarm but may have to tow the vehicle away instead. The vehicle owner is then notified and is liable for the full cost.
Noise Mapping - European Directive
The Noise Directive was passed by the EU in June 2002 requiring countries to produce strategic noise maps for large agglomerations (above 250,000 inhabitants), major roads, major railways and major airports. The UK has issued legislation to bring the EU Directive into effect. This is contained in The Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 which require the Secretary of State to identify areas for mapping. An agglomeration has been defined which comprises most of the areas covered by Gosport Borough plus surrounding areas.
Further information can be found by clicking here.
For further information please call (023) 9254 5505, 5506 or 5507 during office hours or call at the Town Hall, High Street, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 1EB.
Alternatively e-mail ehs@gosport.gov.uk any time.
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