Action against noisy neighbours
The unreasonable behaviour of two noisy neighbours has led one being prosecuted for not controlling her noisy dogs and another having their noise making equipment seized.
Kathleen Roy from Felling was prosecuted at Gateshead Magistrates Court this week for failing to control her noisy dogs who barked regularly and caused a lot of disturbance to her neighbours.
Despite being served a noise abatement notice by Gateshead Council, the noise continued. Even after the notice was served, over 100 recordings of loud barking was recorded. Ms Roy was offered support and advice from council officers but failed to follow the advice, she was fined £1,848 for her actions.
In a separate case, a man from Pelaw had been making his neighbours lives a misery by playing loud music during the day and through the night for several months. The 'heavy bass music' and excessive noise from his television kept his neighbours awake and disturbed their sleep.
Gateshead Council's Private Sector Housing Team were asked to help and talked to him about his behaviour, despite official warnings, all attempts to get him to change his behaviour failed. He was served with an abatement notice, but the noise from his home continued at the same levels as before. This week he had his television, amp and speakers seized by council officers.
Whilst the police were attending the property they also discovered an offensive weapon and cannabis and these items were also removed from the property.
It will now be up to officers to decide whether the man will be prosecuted for failing to comply with the abatement notice and can hold his equipment until the prosecution is complete. If they aren't prosecuted, he must pay the costs associated with the seizure before he can have his equipment returned.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board said: "Residents have a right to live peacefully in their homes, free from unreasonable noise. These two residents blatantly ignored the warnings we gave them, they had plenty of opportunity to change their behaviour, but they chose not to.
"Repeatedly breaching a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act is a serious matter. The Act is there to protect ordinary people, and in this case, their neighbours clearly needed the protection of the law. We will continue to take action against people who harass their neighbours in this way."
The unreasonable behaviour of two noisy neighbours has led one being prosecuted for not controlling her noisy dogs and another having their noise making equipment seized.
Kathleen Roy from Felling was prosecuted at Gateshead Magistrates Court this week for failing to control her noisy dogs who barked regularly and caused a lot of disturbance to her neighbours.
Despite being served a noise abatement notice by Gateshead Council, the noise continued. Even after the notice was served, over 100 recordings of loud barking was recorded. Ms Roy was offered support and advice from council officers but failed to follow the advice, she was fined £1,848 for her actions.
In a separate case, a man from Pelaw had been making his neighbours lives a misery by playing loud music during the day and through the night for several months. The 'heavy bass music' and excessive noise from his television kept his neighbours awake and disturbed their sleep.
Gateshead Council's Private Sector Housing Team were asked to help and talked to him about his behaviour, despite official warnings, all attempts to get him to change his behaviour failed. He was served with an abatement notice, but the noise from his home continued at the same levels as before. This week he had his television, amp and speakers seized by council officers.
Whilst the police were attending the property they also discovered an offensive weapon and cannabis and these items were also removed from the property.
It will now be up to officers to decide whether the man will be prosecuted for failing to comply with the abatement notice and can hold his equipment until the prosecution is complete. If they aren't prosecuted, he must pay the costs associated with the seizure before he can have his equipment returned.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Gateshead Community Safety Board said: "Residents have a right to live peacefully in their homes, free from unreasonable noise. These two residents blatantly ignored the warnings we gave them, they had plenty of opportunity to change their behaviour, but they chose not to.
"Repeatedly breaching a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act is a serious matter. The Act is there to protect ordinary people, and in this case, their neighbours clearly needed the protection of the law. We will continue to take action against people who harass their neighbours in this way."
