Neighbourhood Services
Environmental Health
Ayrshire’s
Environmental Health 24 hour Noise Helpline
0800 731
0410
|
Noise Complaints - What to expect from Environmental
Health
Since October 2005 a Pan Ayrshire Environmental Health out of hours noise
team was established to tackle noise issues throughout Ayrshire.
A new 24 hour freephone noise helpline number was also created to allow
complaints to be made to Environmental Health at any time of day.
Complaints received during office hours and from Thursday to Sunday,
6pm to 4am the following morning will be investigated directly by Officers
from Environmental Health. Calls received outwith these times will also
be acted upon.
Excessive noise can make life a misery.
- Noisy neighbours,
- barking dogs,
- noise from licensed premises or
- construction sites
are just some of the problems that can be experienced.
Many noise problems, particularly those involving neighbours, can be resolved
informally by, for example, explaining to your neighbours the difficulties
they are causing. However, when this approach fails the Council may be
able to help.
Since October 2005 the 3 Ayrshire authorities’ Environmental Health
Sections joined forces to form an out of hours noise team dedicated to
tackling noise issues throughout Ayrshire. Therefore, for the first time,
noise complaints can now be made directly to the Pan Ayrshire Environmental
Health out of hours team. The operating hours of the out of hours team
are as follows:-
Thursday to Sunday
6pm to 4 am the following morning
Noise complaints can also be made to Environmental Health during normal
office hours 01563 554022.
A new freephone 24 hour noise helpline has been created to allow complaints
to be made at any time of the day. Calls received during office hours
and Thursday to Sunday 6pm to 4am the following morning will be investigated
directly by Environmental Health staff. Calls received outwith these times
will be acted upon by daytime staff.
Ayrshire’s
Environmental Health 24 hour Noise Helpline
0800 731
0410
- How You Can Make a Complaint
The simplest and most effective way to make a complaint regarding
noise is to call the noise helpline number (0800 731 0410) when the
noise is occurring.
Alternatively, complaints can also be made to Environmental Health
in person, by letter, electronically or through your local Councillor.
a) Domestic Noise
A person engages in antisocial behaviour if he or she “acts
in a manner that causes or is likely to cause alarm or distress or
pursues a course of conduct that causes or is likely to cause alarm
or distress”.
If you are affected by excessive domestic noise being emitted from
a neigbour’s property (including the garden) and live anywhere
in Ayrshire, then call the 24 hour noise helpline on freephone, 0800
731 0410, for assistance. Environmental Health will respond directly
to your call during office hours Monday to Friday and from Thursday
to Sunday, 6pm to 4am the following morning
Examples of domestic noise include the following:-
Excessive noise from neighbour’s…
• Amplified music
• DIY or car repairs
• Domestic appliances (e.g. TV, washing machine etc)
• Musical instruments
• Domestic alarms
• Barking dogs
• Banging doors
• Raised voices etc.
Since the introduction of the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act
2004 and the implementation of the noise control provisions of the
Act within East Ayrshire from 1 July 2005, additional powers have
been given to authorised Environmental Health staff. They now have
the power to issue noise-makers with a Warning Notice in terms of
the above legislation. The Warning Notice has the effect of requiring
the noise-maker to stop (or turn down) the unwanted noise within 10
minutes. Failure to comply would lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice of
£100 being issued. The fixed penalty requires to be paid within
28 days at East Ayrshire District Court. Failure to pay will result
in a report being sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
During office hours if you wish general information on domestic noise
contact East Ayrshire Council’s Environmental Health Section
on (01563) 554022.
b) Non-Domestic Noise
Non domestic noise is noise which originates from any source other
than a domestic property. Examples include:-
• Commercial/Industrial Alarms
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Entertainment/Music (public houses, nightclubs etc)
• Construction/Demolition
• Roadworks
Where the Officer witnesses the noise and is satisfied that a statutory
nuisance exists a Noise Abatement Notice will be served on the person(s)
responsible for the noise. Where work is required to meet the terms
of the Notice a period of time will be given to allow it to be carried
out.
Failure to comply with the Notice after that time is a criminal offence
and the person(s) can be prosecuted.
If the Notice specified the carrying out of works and this is not
done, the Council can do the work itself and recover the costs from
the person(s) who should have done it.
If you are affected by excessive non-domestic noise and live anywhere
in Ayrshire, then call the 24 hour noise helpline on freephone, 0800
731 0410 for assistance.
During office hours if you wish general information on non-domestic
noise contact East Ayrshire Council’s Environmental Health Section
on (01563) 554022.
|
