Types of noise - what you can do

In this section:

• Air Conditioning units and refrigeration plant
  Noise from air conditioning units and refrigeration plant
• Aircraft noise
  Aircraft noise can be very intrusive at times but unfortunately as a local authority department the environmental protection unit cannot deal with this type of noise.
• Alarms
  Alarms can protect properties against burglars, but they can also cause a noise nuisance to neighbours
• Barking Dogs
  Dog barking can be a serious annoyance if it happens regularly or for prolonged periods of time.
• Bird Scarers
  The council's environmental protection unit (EPU) can only take action if the farmer is not complying with the NFU Code of Practice for the use of Bird Scarers.
• Building and demolition sites
  Building and demolition can be very noisy, but at times the work is often necessary and for a limited time only.
• Buskers and street entertainers
  If you are resident in the city centre or a business that is troubled by buskers or street entertainers playing music at a loud volume please contact the City Centre Manager’s office
• Deliveries
  Delivery times may be limited by highway regulations or by planning permission.
• DIY
  Every year most people will undertake some form of DIY to repair or improve their home. People may not always be able to carry out DIY during the day, due to work commitments, so may work during evenings or weekends.
• Fireworks
  Fireworks and parties can be enjoyable, but thoughtless use of fireworks can cause disturbance and distress to people and animals.
• Loudspeakers
  It is an offence to operate a loudspeaker in the street, between 9pm and 8am and at any other time for advertising a trade or business or entertainment.
• Low frequency noise
  A low frequency noise is very often characterised by a hum or rumble. It may be confused with tinnitus (ringing/hissing in the ears with no obvious cause).
• Music
  The most common noise complaint is about amplified sound, such as music from a stereo, hi-fi, radio, TV, sound system or game station. However, whilst these may be entertainment to you, they can be a noise nuisance to your neighbours.
• Musical instruments and band practice
  The playing of musical instruments can be a nuisance depending on how often they are played, the time of day and the volume of the noise.
• Noise in the street
  The Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993 makes noise in the street a statutory nuisance.
• Noise from industry
  We have legal powers to deal with industrial type noise and can give advice on how to minimise it.
• Noisy parties
  Parties can be a nuisance when they happen regularly, are especially loud or late at night. If your neighbour is having loud parties we can help you.
• Poultry noise
  Keeping chickens in residential areas is on the rise. These can cause noise problems to neighbours.
• Pubs, clubs and licensed premises
  Every pub, club or licensed premises, including takeaways and restaurants, will have a licence that says how their business should be run without causing a nuisance to neighbours.
• Rail noise
  If a new railway or tram line is to be built near your home, you may be entitled to a grant to sound insulate your property under the Noise Insulation (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 1996.
• Road works
  Road works can be noisy, so when people undertake road works they must minimise the noise by using the best available equipment.
• Vehicles and vehicle alarms
  Any noise from a vehicle, not parked on the public highway, can be dealt with by the environmental protection unit (EPU). This includes noise caused by it or by car repairs, car radios, car alarms and parked refrigerator vehicles.