The bill to keep noisy neighbours quiet in Cambridge is costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds, figures have revealed.
Since April 2011, Cambridge City Council has spent a total of around £30,000 – following 45 noise abatement order breaches – trying to shut up residents who blast music from their homes, hold late night parties or have non-stop barking dogs.
Some cases can cost just a couple of hundred pounds, but if challenged can run into thousands of pounds.
Cllr Peter Roberts, Cambridge City Council’s lead on environment, said: “In Cambridge we are incredibly proactive when it comes to noise complaints made by members of the public and there are often several steps taken before it ends in court action and there are very few that do end in court. If anyone is suffering from noisy neighbours we will take it very seriously.”
Hi-fis, radios, sound systems and TVs seized from nuisance, noisy neighbours in Cambridge donated to charity at Mandela House, 4 Regent Street, Cambridge. Daniel Zeichner MP is seen with Peter Roberts Executive Councillor for Environment and Waste and staff from the British Heart Foundation
Comments (5)
The bill to keep noisy neighbours quiet in Cambridge is costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds, figures have revealed.
Since April 2011, Cambridge City Council has spent a total of around £30,000 – following 45 noise abatement order breaches – trying to shut up residents who blast music from their homes, hold late night parties or have non-stop barking dogs.
Some cases can cost just a couple of hundred pounds, but if challenged can run into thousands of pounds.
Cllr Peter Roberts, Cambridge City Council’s lead on environment, said: “In Cambridge we are incredibly proactive when it comes to noise complaints made by members of the public and there are often several steps taken before it ends in court action and there are very few that do end in court. If anyone is suffering from noisy neighbours we will take it very seriously.”
by Taboola Sponsored Links YOU MAY LIKE
Are you a strategic thinker? Test your skills with millions of addicted players!
Stormfall: Free Online Game
New Laser Eye Surgery Taking Galway Residents by Surprise
Optical Express
Is Your Income Less Than €200K? Then Read This
Wealth Discovery Network
From April to December 2011 there were 16 cases of breaching noise abatement orders costing a total of £6,300, with one case alone costing nearly £2,000.
The following year there were six cases costing £4,100 with the highest bill for one hitting £2,695.
In 2013 there were just four cases costing almost £3,000. The following year, 2014, there were six again costing a total of £8,500 with the highest bill for one case at £5,100
One man who flouted a noise abatement notice was slapped with a £2,000 fine in March after a prosecution by Cambridge City Council.
Following a number of complaints and several warnings about loud music and loud voices coming from Dean Mason’s home in Rowlinson Way, environmental health officers issued a noise abatement notice.
Mason failed to attend Cambridge Magistrates’ Court and was found guilty of the offences in his absence, fined £1,320 and the council was awarded costs of £700. There was also a victim surcharge of £66.
Yvonne O’Donnell, the council’s environmental health manager, added: “An application for costs is made at the conclusion of the case and will vary according to the time taken to investigate the offences and also the costs associated with the litigation in bringing the case to court.
“The court will then award a sum they consider to be just and reasonable having regard to the case and the means of the person. In relation to the freedom of information request, the majority of the cases relate to amplified music, shouting, banging and raised voices all at an unreasonable level.
“We would urge anyone who is being disturbed by noisy neighbours and who don’t feel able to speak with them about the issue to contact us on 0300 303 8389 and we will investigate the matter you don’t have to be a victim of anti-social behaviour.”
Source: Cambridge News 31st May 2016
