Increase in reports of noisy neighbours during lockdown in Chesterfield

Council environmental health teams say they are ‘working hard’ to resolve noise problems reported to them, and urging residents to find ways to settle their disputes peacefully.

They say people need to try to be ‘good neighbours’ in these ‘incredibly difficult times’.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We have received a slight increase in noise complaints compared to this time last year. In the month of April we have had 51 complaints in a borough with 48,000 households.

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“Our environmental health team are working hard to investigate any complaints made, and are encouraging residents to contact their neighbour (by letter or over the fence) to find a solution or resolve the issue.

“For those complaints that do need intervention from the council, we are working with other teams to resolve issues and using technology to assist monitoring if we can’t be there in person.

“We are also being proactive on social media and through the local media to promote positive messages relating to limiting noise as well as encouraging people to be good neighbours and look out for each other at this incredibly difficult time.”

A national report by the BBC found that 44 out of 51 local authorites which responded had reported more noise complaints since the lockdown began in March.

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Leeds City Council recorded the biggest rise, with 1,171 noise complaints in April.

Advice on Chesterfield Borough Council’s website says: “The council can't take legal action for noise issues based solely on complaints; for legal action to take place, the noise must be witnessed by one of our qualified officers.

“Chesterfield can be a noisy place and not all noise will be determined as ‘illegal’ or causing a statutory nuisance.

“For a noise to be a statutory nuisance it must have a material harmful impact on the normal, reasonable use of the premises; it is not enough that the noise is just annoying or irritating to an individual. The law doesn't give an absolute right to peace and quiet.”