In this section
Noise complaints
General Noise
Officers will investigate complaints of noise and may be able to take action to stop it from affecting you. We can investigate many different types of noise, including:
- Loud music,
- Barking dogs,
- Car or house alarms,
- Extraction fans,
- Regular DIY.
To help us assess your complaint, we may ask you to keep a diary of when the noise occurs and how it affects you. This helps us decide whether the noise may be a ‘statutory nuisance’ and whether we can take action.
We will need to investigate and understand how the noise is specifically affecting you, so we cannot accept anonymous complaints. We will keep your details confidential wherever possible. However, if formal legal action is needed, we may have to share your details as part of the process.
Construction Noise
We may be able to help if the noise is from a building or demolition site.
Firework Noise
The enforcement of fireworks normally falls under the Police.
According to regulations made under the Fireworks Act 2003, it is an offence for under-18s to possess fireworks in a public place and for anyone to let fireworks off during night hours (11pm to 7am). The only exemptions to this law are on 5 November when you can set them off until midnight and New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali when they can be set off until 1am. Enforcement of this rests with the police who have the power to issue penalty notice.
Making a Complaint
We encourage you to approach your neighbour to talk to them about the problem before contacting the Council. In many cases, people do not realise that there is an issue and will try to resolve things with you. If this does not work, you can contact the Council and ask for our help.
If you have an open case please contact your case officer. If you resubmit another form this may delay our investigation.
