Noise Complaints to Council

[redddraggon]

Hopefully I put this forward succinctly without too much rambling!

My parents live in Sheltered housing as my Dad is ill, but except for all the stresses everyone has in their life things have been going well. But a couple of months ago when the weather started to get better the pub directly across the road (~100m away) started to become unacceptably noisy. Initially my father went over to ask them to turn it down which they seemed to do, but it didn't last long and the sound was back to a high volume. My dad called Environmental Health at the council, and it turned out (for whatever reason) that they weren't allowed speakers outside, so they were removed.

However in the last few weeks they've been playing music inside the Pub at such level that it's causing massive problems for my parents and neighbours across the road. One of my parent's neighbours even had to have a doctor called out to them due to panic/anxiety attacks caused by the noise. On Saturday night the noise went from 8pm to 2am, and my father called the police three times (on the non-emergency number), they drove in the car park and drove straight out without doing anything a couple of times.

My parent's are massively stressed, and with my dad ill I am genuinely worried so I contacted the Environmental Health myself, and I asked a few questions (What's happening, what's going to happen, why's it taking so long etc, all in a polite phone voice) but the guy just got defensive and ranted about everything.

A few highlights:

1. He said he can't take my dad's word for the noise - to which I agreed and asked why doesn't someone go out when the nuisance is taking place and get some evidence? He blamed manpower and the Working Time Directive.

2. Apparently Speakers outside come under a different situation to other noise, and are isolated incidents? To me noise is noise how ever it's caused, and it's still a nuisance.


I used to work in a halls at University and noise complaints were one of my biggest jobs, I used to go and deal with stuff straight away. Granted the council wouldn't be able to respond as fast as me, but surely some one should respond? The police? I guess the times they responded they could have been making a note of what they observed while being hamstrung by regulations to prevent them intervening? I just think it's a little unfair for vulnerable people to have to deal with hour after hour of this? The Environment Health guy just seemed to give reasons why he couldn't rather than solutions. I could probably get a hold a decibel meter but then surely that's the council's job anyway?

I have also contacted the local MP who is sending the council a letter ASAP and is also going meet with my father. I have suggested to my Dad to ring the non-emergency police number every time the Pub is taking the pee, they all get logged? I have confidence in the council doing something eventually, but I feel that when the incidents are 6 hours long that something should be done then and there by someone? I don't want my dad to go around anymore for fear of any sort of retaliation and I live in Manchester so I can't respond quickly (and if I went over I'd probably want to find the main fuse box ).

Any other ideas I can try?

Sorry for the Rant!

[NecronomicoN]

Who owns the sheltered housing? Possible to just request a transfer and move somewhere else? Fighting a business is not easy.

Do you have any rights on the property? Can you build a soundwall?

[mycarsavw]

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires the Council to carry out reasonable investigation of all complaints. They should be interviewing the landlord and/or coming to your parents house and monitoring noise levels. Have all the residents made a complaint?

As a licensed premises they should have a noise management policy which restricts the times at which they can make noise. Between 11pm and 7am is considered 'quiet time' so any noises made in the pub should not be heard outside the pub.

Under the Licensing Act 2003 anyone can request a review of the premises license if they feel the terms are not being adhered to by the holder. You really need to push the Local Authority into action though. Who is the Local Authority?

[redddraggon]

Who owns the sheltered housing? Possible to just request a transfer and move somewhere else? Fighting a business is not easy.

Do you have any rights on the property? Can you build a soundwall?

It's council property, and if this had started earlier they would tried to get a transfer (it was hard enough to get in this place to start with though) but my mum has spent loads getting the property to her liking. A soundwall (I presume you mean like a fence or something?) sounds like an option, but on Saturday the noise was loud enough to travel through closed windows to the back bedroom.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires the Council to carry out reasonable investigation of all complaints. They should be interviewing the landlord and/or coming to your parents house and monitoring noise levels. Have all the residents made a complaint?

As a licensed premises they should have a noise management policy which restricts the times at which they can make noise. Between 11pm and 7am is considered 'quiet time' so any noises made in the pub should not be heard outside the pub.

Under the Licensing Act 2003 anyone can request a review of the premises license if they feel the terms are not being adhered to by the holder. You really need to push the Local Authority into action though. Who is the Local Authority?

It's Flintshire County Council. The council have said they have interviewed the landlord and visited numerous times (but during the day when it's quiet).

The local authority have said that they are investigating and taking legal advice over withdrawing the license. But the thing is, neither I or nor my parents want to see the business shut down, I just want noise dealt with when it happens, I don't think it's fair to make vulnerable people to suffer 6 or so hours of noise through the night. Fair enough repeated complaints should warrant a review of the license.

My dad has been encouraging the neighbours to complain and given them all the phone number, but I bet lots just won't have bothered, letting my dad doing all the work.

[Kai]

Record the noise so you have some evidence from houses most affected, and then try get someone in there to record noise levels inside the actual pub .

[mcmiller]

My dad works for the council and after talking to him sounds like youre doing everything correctly.

*edit* you could also try contacting the councillor(s) for that area he may be able to assist.

[jimbouk]

Local paper may be able to help put some pressure on the council to assist. Get in touch and invite a reporter round for a cup of tea at midnight a day when they have music on regularly.

[mycarsavw]

It's Flintshire County Council. The council have said they have interviewed the landlord and visited numerous times (but during the day when it's quiet).

The local authority have said that they are investigating and taking legal advice over withdrawing the license. But the thing is, neither I or nor my parents want to see the business shut down, I just want noise dealt with when it happens, I don't think it's fair to make vulnerable people to suffer 6 or so hours of noise through the night. Fair enough repeated complaints should warrant a review of the license.

My dad has been encouraging the neighbours to complain and given them all the phone number, but I bet lots just won't have bothered, letting my dad doing all the work.

Sounds as though you've done everything in your power already.

I can't see them getting the license withdrawn if this is their first 'offence' - they should get a warning and some help to understand what they're meant to do about their noise control. Withdrawing the license is usually a last resort.

See if the MP's letter has any affect.

[scaryjim]

... neither I or nor my parents want to see the business shut down, I just want noise dealt with when it happens, ...

tbh if they've been interviewed and visited several times by the council but they're persisting in playing loud music at inappropriate times, you're unlikely to get the noise dealt with while that landlord is in charge. Revoking the license - or at least threatening too - might be the next step on the process.

Definitely find out who the local councillor is and get in touch with them - this kind of thing is exactly what councillors are for.

[TheAnimus]

Obvious question I suppose, but has he tried talking to the landlord?

[ConnorLowe]

Try and get a few recordings of the sound from your parents home and give them recordings to the local MP if you can. In fact, simply give it to as many people of importance as possible.

If you have somewhat tangible proof, something surely must be done about it.

Hope everything is sorted out sooner rather than later

[jimbouk]

Obvious question I suppose, but has he tried talking to the landlord?

Yeah, with little effect. Sounds like it's past that sadly, but maybe an open letter signed by a group of residents could help so they understand that it isn't just one or two people causing a fuss.

[redddraggon]

Try and get a few recordings of the sound from your parents home and give them recordings to the local MP if you can. In fact, simply give it to as many people of importance as possible.

If you have somewhat tangible proof, something surely must be done about it.

Hope everything is sorted out sooner rather than later

The local MP has sent a letter to the Chief of Flintshire county council, I'm not happy with the wording they used though, but it should stir the council into more rapid action.

Obvious question I suppose, but has he tried talking to the landlord?

At the beginning yes, but it hasn't helped. And I don't want my Dad going over there when it's kicking off in the evenings.

[ConnorLowe]

Hopefully with the MP involved, the issue should be resolved quickly

[santa claus]

Contact the Welsh Government and tell them that the local authority has not fulfilled its obligations under the Environmental Health Act in relation to this instance of noise pollution.

They will help you. Your dad shouldn't have to put up with this racket.

[OilSheikh]

I have problems with a European neighbour few houses down the road and they like to play their radio loudly every evening.
They were also looking after live chicken in the past!

What I have done so far is keep a log of when they are noisy, use my phone to record them being noisy from my window and save the video files. I have also sent them Recorded letters anonymously politely asking them to behave themselves or I will complain to council. Had to send 2 letters so far and when they recieve the letter, they behave.
I would love to take them to court but I am not that nasty!