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Noise complaints at all time high
1:01pm Wednesday 18th June 2008
By Peter Law »
COMPLAINTS about noisy neighbours - from barking dogs to loud late night music and even early morning lawnmowers - have reached record levels in Hampshire.
Figures obtained by the Daily Echo reveal that more than 8,000 residents in Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester, Test Valley and Fareham lodged noise complaints with their local council in the past financial year.
Neighbours turning their booming stereos up to ear-bleeding levels were by far the most common irritant, followed by pets, parties and mechanical equipment.
Sleep-deprived residents in flatcongested Southampton made 5,367 calls to the city council's night-time out of hours noise service in the past financial year, a rise of 23 per cent on the previous year.
A Freedom of Information request also revealed that in the past four years a total of 16,190 complaints had been made to the service, which runs from 9pm until the early morning hours.
Southampton City Council told the Daily Echo that it had seized stereos, surround-sound systems, amplifiers and speakers from 28 of the city's noisiest residents.
Public health services manager Norman Wilson said that neighbours in Southampton were becoming more intolerant and less considerate of each other.
He said: "We aren't going to do anything about one-off parties to be perfectly honest, because we are not in the business of spoiling people's fun. If it's a one-off party I'm afraid you are going to have to live with it for that night.
"But if someone plays loud music all day, every night and has no consideration for their neighbours, well people can only put up with that for so long and that's when they get in touch with us."
Mr Wilson said that communication between neighbours had broken down and that many were unwilling to deal with the situation themselves.
"Quite often neighbours don't want to approach the person who is making the noise because people don't like confrontation," he said.
"People are becoming much more concerned about their safety, they are not quite sure what is going to happen if they knock on someone's door and ask them if they would mind turning the noise down."
Test Valley was the second noisiest region with 1,066 complaints, followed by Winchester (721), Eastleigh (605) and Fareham (535). Fareham Borough Council was also the only council to have seen a reduction in complaints, while Winchester suffered the sharpest rise at 47 per cent.
Council officers are increasingly installing digital monitoring equipment to record noise levels, but despite this measure they have managed to prosecute only a fraction of repeat offenders.
The number of noise complaints in Southampton has risen by 41 per cent four years, but only 11 people were issued fines for noise nuisance in the last financial year, compared to 12 in 2004/05.
Mr Wilson said that this was because the preference was to educate noisy neighbours rather than take them to court.
Your Say YourEcho
Idiots, says...
1:45pm Wed 18 Jun 08
bingolover wrote:Do you have kids?
I have a neighbour who's made several complaints about me blasting loud music during the afternoon. I wouldn't mind, only that's when I'm at work! Unless my house is being broken into on a regular basis by a music-loving burglar, they've obviously got their wires crossed. It's frustrating that they haven't tried to approach me about it, nobody has knocked my door (mind you, I wouldn't be in when they're saying the noise is bad). I still believe that people should be made to approach their neighbours at least once in these circumstances, before they can log complaints against them. I would've had the chance to resolve this ongoing dispute, as it is, I haven't got a clue who's been making the complaints and it's not making me want to be friendly to any of the people living in the surrounding houses!
Bambi, says...
1:48pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Sue, Southampton says...
1:51pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Mr Peace And Lover, says...
1:57pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Party Animal, says...
2:01pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Sue wrote:You must be a h00t.
I am not surprised that noise complaints have increased. We are bombarded with noise all the time. It is almost impossible to have peace and quiet. People no longer consider their neighbours - they seem incappable of shutting doors quietly. Doors are constantly slamming throughout the day and night due to their inability to shut a door quietly. Car engines are revved whilst car radios blare out noise constantly. The High Street stores blare out noise all day. Many people just seem incapable of moderation or even respect for their neighbours. I wonder how many peoples' hearing have been damaged by excessive noise.
Bob, Southampton says...
2:07pm Wed 18 Jun 08
bingolover, southampton says...
2:31pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Idiots wrote:Nope. I have two cats though and am starting to get suspicious that maybe they're more intellegent than I've been giving them credit for.....
bingolover wrote: I have a neighbour who's made several complaints about me blasting loud music during the afternoon. I wouldn't mind, only that's when I'm at work! Unless my house is being broken into on a regular basis by a music-loving burglar, they've obviously got their wires crossed. It's frustrating that they haven't tried to approach me about it, nobody has knocked my door (mind you, I wouldn't be in when they're saying the noise is bad). I still believe that people should be made to approach their neighbours at least once in these circumstances, before they can log complaints against them. I would've had the chance to resolve this ongoing dispute, as it is, I haven't got a clue who's been making the complaints and it's not making me want to be friendly to any of the people living in the surrounding houses!Do you have kids?
Keith Oftergrass, says...
2:45pm Wed 18 Jun 08
When I rang up to complain about the awful racket coming from the Football stadium last week during that pop concert they told me there was nothing they could do. If they can't stop noise affecting 1000's of residents then they are not going to act when only a few are affected !
tony, ..halfway between the scummers and the skates.. says...
2:53pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Anon, says...
2:53pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Big Dan Gleebles, Soton says...
3:03pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Ice Skater, says...
3:09pm Wed 18 Jun 08
..and the sound of the Speedway :(
sigh, Southampton says...
3:14pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Bob wrote:That sounds terrible. Nobody will do anything about it and those types will just try and make your life difficult if you complain.
Well I live in the new flats in Southampton and I confronted my Neighbor after they had several parties only to be asked outside for a fight. I guess that\'s what happens when you let in scum in new builds.
Time to cut your losses and leave?
tony, ..still in my luvverly quiet village.. says...
3:18pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Ice Skater wrote:Move to Portsmouth.. Plenty of Skates on ice in the winter, plus they have a speedway with greyhounds instead of bikes..
I would love to hear the noise of Skates on Ice. ..and the sound of the Speedway :(
Ken, Stubbington says...
3:27pm Wed 18 Jun 08
bingolover, southampton says...
3:31pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Idiots wrote:Are you my neighbour?
bingolover wrote:Disgusting, stop blaming your cats. Please.Idiots wrote: You are sick, blaming your noise on your cats.The point I made was that it couldn't be my noise as the complaints have been made early afternoon- whilst I'm at work. It's either somebody else (and I'm suspecting the unemployed Drum n Bass fan two doors down) or it's my cats. If it was me, I wouldn't mind being complained about, although I'd still expect them to knock the door at least once....
Doglover, Hedge End says...
3:39pm Wed 18 Jun 08
anon, Southampton says...
3:53pm Wed 18 Jun 08
p London, somewhere says...
4:17pm Wed 18 Jun 08
JB Soton, Gosport says...
4:29pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Doglover wrote:There is a device you can buy that stops dogs yapping and barking. Its a collar with a tiny box on it , every time the dog yaps or barks it gets a 'puff' in its face, sounds awful I know but it is'nt, My mother has just acquired one for her 5mth old scotty and its working a treat! There is a down-side though they cost about £50 ! You need to find a leaflet or something about them and stick it in their letter box. At least they would know someone is trying to tell them something!
I live near a family who for some reason can not stop their yappy dogs barking, this has been going on for years, now i love dogs i have owned dogs and these never have made so much noise, these start at 7 in the morning, when i come in from work they are going again and then at 11pm at night, didnt think you could actually complain about it to a council or anything but seriously if i can hear them through double glazing so must the other neighbours. Sort it out!!!!
Denzil, says...
4:37pm Wed 18 Jun 08
JB Soton wrote:Do they work on women from Millbrook?
Doglover wrote: I live near a family who for some reason can not stop their yappy dogs barking, this has been going on for years, now i love dogs i have owned dogs and these never have made so much noise, these start at 7 in the morning, when i come in from work they are going again and then at 11pm at night, didnt think you could actually complain about it to a council or anything but seriously if i can hear them through double glazing so must the other neighbours. Sort it out!!!!There is a device you can buy that stops dogs yapping and barking. Its a collar with a tiny box on it , every time the dog yaps or barks it gets a 'puff' in its face, sounds awful I know but it is'nt, My mother has just acquired one for her 5mth old scotty and its working a treat! There is a down-side though they cost about £50 ! You need to find a leaflet or something about them and stick it in their letter box. At least they would know someone is trying to tell them something!
c, says...
4:53pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Mike, Southampton says...
5:09pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Keith Oftergrass wrote:Please Please tell me you are being sarcastic and you did not phone up about the Bon Jovi gig at St Mary's stadium?!
This is just a nonsense, paying lip-service to the public. When I rang up to complain about the awful racket coming from the Football stadium last week during that pop concert they told me there was nothing they could do. If they can't stop noise affecting 1000's of residents then they are not going to act when only a few are affected !
If you indeed did you are a sad sad sad person. A gig that went on no later than 1030-1100pm and happness once a year or less. I am hoping you are joking but fear you are not.
I have just come back from the Isle of Wight festival and they have very few complaints and the locals cash in on the weekend and make some money out of it!
Bambi, says...
5:11pm Wed 18 Jun 08
c wrote:You misunderstand. They just get a puff in their face. Graham Norton, generally.
They get a puff of what in their face?
c, says...
5:27pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Bambi wrote:Bambi jokes aside, it was a serious question though, i have a dog that barks a lot and it gets on my nerves let alone the neighbours and i would be interested in a device that could shut her up i have heard of the collars that give an electric shock but think thats cruel thanks
c wrote:You misunderstand. They just get a puff in their face. Graham Norton, generally.
They get a puff of what in their face?
JB Soton, Gosport says...
5:57pm Wed 18 Jun 08
c wrote:Brand name is 'Multivet'
Bambi wrote:Bambi jokes aside, it was a serious question though, i have a dog that barks a lot and it gets on my nerves let alone the neighbours and i would be interested in a device that could shut her up i have heard of the collars that give an electric shock but think thats cruel thanks
c wrote:You misunderstand. They just get a puff in their face. Graham Norton, generally.
They get a puff of what in their face?
Collar and box cost £50
and you buy a small canister of 'citronella' refill at the same time
{ cost about £7)My mother tells me it took about 3days for her Dog to calm down but now he has stopped barking and yapping.You can remove it at any time you like.Any good pet shop should stock it, I believe one of my sisters got it at Pampered Pets. Thats all the info I have.
c, says...
6:19pm Wed 18 Jun 08
JB Soton wrote:Thanks for that.
c wrote:Brand name is 'Multivet'
Bambi wrote:Bambi jokes aside, it was a serious question though, i have a dog that barks a lot and it gets on my nerves let alone the neighbours and i would be interested in a device that could shut her up i have heard of the collars that give an electric shock but think thats cruel thanks
c wrote:You misunderstand. They just get a puff in their face. Graham Norton, generally.
They get a puff of what in their face?
Collar and box cost £50
and you buy a small canister of 'citronella' refill at the same time
{ cost about £7)My mother tells me it took about 3days for her Dog to calm down but now he has stopped barking and yapping.You can remove it at any time you like.Any good pet shop should stock it, I believe one of my sisters got it at Pampered Pets. Thats all the info I have.
Steve, Soton says...
6:44pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Bambi, says...
6:55pm Wed 18 Jun 08
c wrote:IMHO, these collars are no replacement to a short, sharp strike on the nose from your good self. Same effect, but also enforces to the animal that you are in charge. A remote device like a shock collar or the Graham Norton 2000, the dog won't know where the discipline is coming from. I can see that being upsetting and confusing for the animal
Bambi wrote:Bambi jokes aside, it was a serious question though, i have a dog that barks a lot and it gets on my nerves let alone the neighbours and i would be interested in a device that could shut her up i have heard of the collars that give an electric shock but think thats cruel thanks
c wrote:You misunderstand. They just get a puff in their face. Graham Norton, generally.
They get a puff of what in their face?
paul b, says...
9:38pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Pollyanna, Southampton says...
9:46pm Wed 18 Jun 08
Please engage brain before opening mouth.
Why are the Noise Officers "not here to stop peoples fun " ?
It is the council tax paying citizens who should decide, not Council employess who may not even live in the city.
How dare they suggest that people put their lives at risk asking drunken revellers to quieten down. They are not even allowed to knock on doors themselves and do this in case they get attacked, but they expect us to do it with no insurance cover or pay.
A disgraceful situation.
erm...Council noise bloke, Prefer not to say says...
5:14pm Fri 20 Jun 08
erm...Council noise bloke, Prefer not to say says...
5:16pm Fri 20 Jun 08
erm...Council noise bloke, Prefer not to say says...
5:16pm Fri 20 Jun 08
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bingolover, Blasting Music Through my Invisible Stereo.... says...
1:19pm Wed 18 Jun 08
It's frustrating that they haven't tried to approach me about it, nobody has knocked my door (mind you, I wouldn't be in when they're saying the noise is bad).
I still believe that people should be made to approach their neighbours at least once in these circumstances, before they can log complaints against them. I would've had the chance to resolve this ongoing dispute, as it is, I haven't got a clue who's been making the complaints and it's not making me want to be friendly to any of the people living in the surrounding houses!