The Council is urging residents to crack down on noisy neighbours this week - which is Noise Action Week.



As part of Noise Action Week, which runs from April 26-30, Southampton City Council’s environmental health team is getting out and about in the city to talk to residents about their noise related grumbles. 



The environmental health team says it has had significant success in the past year in Southampton at cracking down on residents who can make people’s lives a misery by playing loud music, leaving their car alarms on all night, as well as shouting and screaming. 



430 noise abatement notices were handed out in 2009/2010 in Southampton. These are legal warning letters, which can eventually lead to fines of up to Ł5,000 if offenders continue to flout the rules on noise pollution. 


Two recent offenders in Southampton were handed fines of Ł2,500 and Ł2,000. 



The council has seen a four-fold increase in just four years in the amount of people it has taken action against in regards to noise pollution. And it says this tough stance seems to be working. In 2009/2010 the council received 500 less noise complaints from members of public compared to the previous year.



Nasir Chowdhury, a council environmental health officer, said: “The main aim of Noise Action Week is to get out into the community and talk to people about the harmful impact that persistent loud noise can have on others. It is also about looking at solutions.

 

“We get all sorts of calls from members of the public, and these can range to someone complaining about a dog barking, to someone fed up with constant shouting and loud music. Loud noise can make people’s lives a misery and we are here to help.” 



When a complaint is received from a member of public, the first step from environmental health officers is to write to the accused people. If no notice is taking an official noise abatement notice will then be sent. This is usually enough of a deterrent to stop persistent noise happening in the future. However, if noise is still a problem, officers will visit the property and take action. If a decision is taken to prosecute, the noisy offenders will be taken to court where they could get hit with a fine of up to Ł5,000. 



The council will hold display events about noise pollution at Townhill Park (next to the local housing office) on April 26 from 10.00AM to 1.00PM, WestQuay shopping Centre on April 27 from 9.00AM to 7.00PM, Southampton University on April 28 from 9.00AM to 3.00PM, Southampton Solent University on April 29 from 10.00AM to 1.00AM and the corner of Kingsclere Avenue on April 30 from 10.00AM to 1.00PM. 



This year, Noise Action Week in Southampton coincides with International Noise Awareness Day (April 28) — a global campaign which raises awareness of the impact of noise pollution on communities. 



Noise Action Week is an annual initiative organised by the Environmental Protection UK, a charity which has been working for a cleaner, quieter, and healthier world since 1898.