Crackdown on noisy neighbours set for Pendle

11:29pm Friday 16th May 2008

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PROBLEMS with noisy neighbours could be dealt with around the clock under a new scheme being considered by Pendle Council.

Leading councillors are being asked to sign up to a successful initiative already being run by by Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn councils.

And there are talks taking place over whether Burnley and Rossendale councils will become part of the partnership, which cracks down on noise nuisances outside of office hours.

For £8,500 a year, the Pendle authority can become linked in with the system, which sees environmental health officers visiting problems sites at night - and over weekends - to take initial complaints.

The overall cost could be reduced to £7,000 if another council, like Burnley or Rossendale, also came on board.

Pendle council spokesman said: "The service provided by Blackburn with Darwen Council and Hyndburn Council has been found to be successful.

"It has resulted in more effective evidence gathering leading to more efficient enforcement and has been welcomed by their elected members.

"It has also been welcomed members of the public suffering from regular problems with night time noise and by the police, who are able to refer relevant complainants to a council officer who can normally respond immediately."

Councillors must give permission for Blackburn or Hyndburn officers to operate in Pendle, and vice versa, before the scheme can take effect.

The initiative is welcomed by police as it diverts complaints about noise nuisance away from their control rooms, often at busy times.

And councils which take part in the scheme can save on overtime costs by sharing the workload for out-of-hours complaints with another five local authorities, if everyone agrees to the deal.

Residents can also be sure that their problems are recorded and investigated, no matter what the time of day or night.

Noise watchdogs in Hyndburn scored a notable victory recently when prosecuted a woman in Rishton who had been annoying her neighbours by playing Madonna tracks at high volume.

And investigators from Pendle council itself also recently took the former landlady of the Craven Heifer at Kelbrook after a villager complained about the loud music coming from the premises during their band nights.