Domestic Pollution

Noise nuisance

Too much noise can be very distressing and affect people's quality of life. Our officers respond to and investigate complaints of noise nuisance at domestic and commercial premises.

We can investigate the following types of noise nuisance:

• Loud music and TV
• Raised voices
• Noise from pubs and clubs
• Noise from demolition or construction works
• Burglar alarms and car alarms
• DIY at unreasonable hours
• Loudspeakers on vehicles in the street
• Noise from commercial or industrial premises
• Animals such as barking dogs, cockerels

We cannot take action against normal traffic and aircraft noise, children playing, noise from anti-social behaviour in the street and noise from normal domestic activities.

What we will do

We will try to resolve your complaint informally by contacting the person making the noise and giving them advice. You should also begin keeping a diary sheet which can be downloaded on this page.

If the problem continues our officers will need to visit your property to hear the noise for themselves, so it is important that you contact our monitoring service whilst the noise is happening. The officer will look at a number of issues, including the time of day; the nature of the area; the volume, length and frequency of the noise and the activity that is causing the noise.

Formal action is only possible where our officers witness noise that they think is a statutory nuisance. Just because noise can be heard and is annoying does not mean that it is a statutory nuisance. To be a statutory nuisance the noise must be causing serious disruption to your everyday activities, such as watching television or sleeping. We must also prove that the noise happens regularly, for this reason, one-off events are unlikely to be a statutory nuisance.

When we witness a nuisance we will first issue the person responsible a warning letter. If the nuisance continues and our officers witness a statutory nuisance again, generally within four weeks of the first nuisance, then we will serve the offender with a noise abatement notice which means they have to stop making the noise or they will be breaking the law. If the nuisance continues and it is witnessed by our officers, we will prosecute and you might have to give evidence in court.

Investigating noise nuisance can be a long and frustrating process taking several months but we will try to resolve your complaint and advise you of the next step and what you need to do.

Where a noise is not enough to be a statutory nuisance you will be told of our decision and that no further action is possible and we will tell you what other action you can take.

Smoke nuisance

Bonfires and the Law

Where a neighbour is causing a problem by burning rubbish there are legal powers to deal with it. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a statutory nuisance includes “smoke, fumes or gases emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance”. In practice, to be considered a statutory nuisance, a bonfire would have to be a persistent problem, interfering substantially with your well-being, comfort or enjoyment of your property.

Bonfire guidelines

• only burn dry material
• never burn household rubbish, rubber tyres, or anything containing   plastic, foam or paint
• never use old engine oil, meths or petrol to light the fire or to encourage it
• avoid lighting a fire in unsuitable weather conditions - smoke hangs on the air on damp, still days and in the evening.  If it is windy, smoke may be blown into neighbours’ gardens and across roads
• avoid burning at weekends and bank holidays when people want to enjoy their gardens
• avoid burning when air pollution in your area is high or very high.  This information is included in weather forecasts, or you can check by ringing 0800 556677
• never leave a fire unattended or leave it to smoulder - douse it with water if necessary

Report a bonfire problem 

If bothered by smoke, approach your neighbour and explain the problem. They may not be aware of the distress they are causing. 

If this fails, please contact us to report a problem.

Under the Highways Act 1980, anyone lighting a fire and allowing smoke to drift across a road faces a fine if it endangers traffic. The Police are the enforcing authority in relation to this.

How to make a complaint

You can make a complaint online by completing the pollution reporting form.

Where sufficient evidence is gained, there are a range actions that can be taken to ensure that your issue is dealt with. We don't investigate anonymous complaints. We won't reveal your identity during our initial investigations, but it may be necessary to present your statement in court should the matter result in prosecution. 

If your complaint goes on to a formal investigation stage, it may be registered against your property. This then has to be declared if and when you come to sell it.