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Keep your noise down!
BLACKPOOL'S noise police are cranking up their war on rowdy residents.
That was the message as figures showed 1,250 complaints of noisy neighbours
are now being dealt with every year.
And council bosses today said they would be using tough new anti-social
behaviour orders to crack down on the problem which blights many people's
lives.
Last month, a woman had all her music equipment confiscated after neighbours
complained about the deafening din throbbing through their walls at all
hours of the day and night.
Environmental health chiefs hope the case will act as a wake up call to
those who have little or no regard for their neighbours when they turn up
the noise.
Coun Fred Jackson, portfolio holder for the urban environment, said: "There
has been a gradual progression to introducing stronger measures to tackle
anti-social behaviour, and noise nuisance is something that causes a lot of
heartache to a lot of people.
"Insensitive neighbours think they can hold a party at any time and then
there is the question of dogs left unattended and barking all day.
"Our officers are going to take a very strong line. We won't take action if
it is not necessary, but we do want to send a clear message out that noise
nuisance is not acceptable."
Kevin Garritty, head of environmental services at Blackpool Council, said:
"Tackling anti-social behaviour is one of the key priorities of this council
so noise nuisance is something we will be focusing more resources on.
"We come across people whose lives are made a misery by having to constantly
listen to noisy neighbours. It causes friction in the family, people lose
sleep and then they end up being off work."It is a very serious issue."
The council is so intent on tackling the problem that its Noise Action Team
is on duty every weekend from 9pm to 3am, ready to go out to investigate and
monitor complaints which mainly come in the early hours of the morning.
Once a complaint has been made, the householder is asked to keep a diary of
the disturbances.
Noise monitoring equipment is used to collect evidence of the offence.
Equipment, such as stereos and televisions can be seized while people who
are successfully prosecuted can face fines of up to £5,000 in total, or £500
a day if they ignore an abatement order.
One recent case saw two stereo systems, two video recorders, DVD players,
three televisions including a £1,000 wide-screen, computer speakers, a
digibox, tape player and an alarm clock seized from the home of 22-year-old
Zoe Gardner of Manchester Road after she failed to comply with a noise
abatement order.
Magistrates ordered that the sound equipment be
forfeited after neighbours complained about her playing loud music at all
hours.
The mother of one has since moved from the address at the centre of the row..
The council had set up noise monitoring equipment in the house next door
after neighbours logged instances of parties and loud dance music.
A week-long campaign is under way at the moment as part of national Noise
Week, aimed at raising peoples' awareness about the impact noise has on
everyday lives and to promote practical solutions for those suffering from
noise pollution.
To mark the event, Blackpool Council's environmental services division is
holding a free, interactive exhibition at the Solaris building on South
Promenade which will continue over the weekend.
For more information contact the council on (01253) 478456.
25 May 2005