Silencing Noisy Neighbours
Last updated: 20/10/2006 - 15:18
New action could make it easier for us to take action against neighbours who cause excessive noise disturbance at night.
Figures show there has not been a rise in neighbour noise complaints to local councils since the mid '90s - but there is still a need to combat the nuisance caused by anti-social noisy neighbours.
Two key measures will:
1. Enable local authorities to use the 1996 Noise Act more freely, by seeking an amendment making the Night Noise offence more accessible to local councils.
2. Target the noise making culprits directly in a hard-hitting publicity campaign, getting across the message that everyone has a right to protection from loud noisy neighbours.
Necessary Powers
"I am not necessarily saying I want more cases of noise disturbance to go to court, " said environment minister Michael Meacher. "What I am recognising, only too well, is that neighbour noise is a serious problem for some people, and causes a lot of aggravation.
"I want to ensure that local authorities have all the necessary powers to deal with people who make life so unbearable for their neighbours, through unacceptably noisy activities at any time of day.
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