Issue 5 - East Cambridgeshire District Council

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focus noise pollution Turning it down If something goes boom, bang, buzz, bark, beat or generally disturbs your peace, what can you do about it? Well, you can call your local district council, as Glenn Thwaites finds out The rapid development of East Cambridgeshire – in both its housing and economy – has brought with it many challenges. One of these is excessive noise, which can have a real impact on someone’s life, especially if it is loud and constant. But there are things which can be done. The District Council Domestic Pollution Team consists of seven officers who are experts in dealing with a wide range of domestic issues such as housing disrepair to odour and noise disputes between those people who want a quiet life and those whose Top tips for a quiet life ● Warn neighbours of any events you are organising; ● Avoid excessive noise at all times; ● Reduce the volume level as the evening progresses; ● If you are going away, leave contact details with a neighbour and, whenever possible, also leave a key; ● Generally be a good neighbour and treat others as you would want them to treat you; and ● Respect other people’s opinions and accept that different people have difference tolerance levels to noise and disturbance. 14 lifestyles or businesses are a little more noisy. Karen See, who leads the team, explains how the department works: “We deal with everything from complaints about barking dogs to booming car stereos, noisy neighbours and malfunctioning smoke and burglar alarms. There are also often issues raised by new housing developments built near existing industrial sites. “We have found that the key is to deal with potential problems before they even happen. For example, we have two huge music events coming up this summer – the Ely Folk Festival and Danceisland. The only way to make sure they run smoothly is to work closely with the organiser of the events. “We have held regular meetings with all parties – from the organisers to the police and local residents – to agree a number of conditions that include noise. We have agreed to monitor these events closely to ensure the levels we have decided on are stuck to and do not cause unnecessary disturbance to people in the area. On the domestic front, excessive noise can make life a misery. Noisy neighbours, noise east cambridgeshire magazine summer 2008 from industry or construction sites and barking dogs are just a few of the problems that crop up. The rapid growth in house building has brought many more people living closer together. So barbecues, birthday parties and other celebrations that go on into the night can upset people if people aren’t considerate. As Vinnie Jathoul explains: “When we receive a complaint, we do our best to resolve the issue informally and mediate between the two parties. But sometimes things cannot be resolved easily, so a range of “Deal with potential problems before they happen” legislation can be brought into force to deal with the issue. “There are a variety of Acts which we can use. These provide a range of weapons that can be brought to bear on those responsible for unacceptable levels of noise or disturbance. “For example, pubs and clubs that exceed agreed noise levels at night can be hit with an instant £500 fixed penalty notice, and drivers who like to entertain the world with their car stereo systems can also be required to quieten down. “We also help businesses to avoid problems. We are here to give advice to any firms that are considering changing their working practices or hours of business, and regular liaison meetings are held with local businesses.” These liaison meetings also involve a range of interested parties, such as local people, parish and district councillors. The meetings are chaired by an independent person and are designed to resolve any potential areas of conflict in advance. But, as Claire Braybrook explains, a district council can act swiftly when it has to: “Ultimately we have the power to obtain a warrant to enter a property and deal with the source of the noise – but this is not an action which is taken lightly and the decision to enter a property could leave the owner with a hefty bill. “Just a few weeks ago, we were told about a smoke alarm that was disturbing the neighbours of a three-storey terraced house. “A fault had developed, which meant the alarm was sounding continuously. We tried to find the
home owners, but they were away for the weekend so unfortunately it proved fruitless. The neighbours couldn’t even expect some respite when the smoke alarm batteries were exhausted, as they were mains powered. “So we obtained an entry warrant and, accompanied by a police officer, a locksmith and an engineer to fix the alarms, we went into the house to deal with the problem. We then charged the homeowners for all the work. The BodyLaser Clinic • TITAN Skin Tightening • Laser Hair Removal • Vein Treatments • Skin Rejuvenation • Microdermabrasion • Injections for Wrinkles Although this is an extreme example, it does show what we can do to deal with noise problems, although thankfully most issues are settled much more easily.” The message from the East Cambridgeshire District Council team is clear: ‘Don’t suffer in silence: we are here to help.’■ ● The team can be contacted during normal office hours or via the Council’s out of hour’s emergency number (07710 978900). Essex House, 71 Regent Street, Cambridge CB2 1AB 01223 464171 www.bodylaser.co.uk Opening soon at 58 Broadway, Peterborough
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Page 8 and 9: feature new recycling centre Recycl
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Issue 5 - East Cambridgeshire District Council

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