Your Politics: Noise

"At weekends
there are
hundreds of
drunks shouting,
fighting and
making life
miserable for
residents."

Richard Crossley, Leeds

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Get involved

Your responses

There's been a big drive by central and local government to re-invigorate our town centres, and prevent them from becoming ghost towns at night.

Newcastle, Leeds and Cardiff, for example, are now magnets for people looking for a great night out.

But residents who live near these town centres complain that the so-called 'evening economy' is affecting their standard of living.

Noise and rowdy behaviour are the main problems.

Now campaigners have told MPs that tough action is needed to clamp down on these disturbances, or city centre residents will simply move out.

The World Health Organisation says that living with high levels of noise can be damaging to health.

Health Effects of noise (source: WHO)

Impaired hearing

Loss of sleep

Headaches

Increased blood pressure

Increased heart rate

Anxiety

Nausea

Inability to concentrate

Common effects are disrupted sleep, changes in blood pressure, headaches and problems with the digestive system.

Yet research suggests that one fifth of Europeans are living in areas heavily polluted by high noise levels.

One such person is Richard Crossley, who says he was forced to move away from his home in Leeds when more and more bars started opening in the area.

"The noise and litter problems are appalling. We had condoms left in our garden", he says.

Residents' groups says that anti-social behaviour could be curbed by better policing, but there is an argument over who should pay.

One solution has been put forward by Labour MP Jon Owen Jones, who says that weekend drinkers should pay an extra 2p per pint in order to double the number of police on the streets.

But most people are simply advised to contact their local council if they are experiencing problems with noise.

The musical Umoja was forced to close after complaints about noise

Last year, the South African hit musical Umoja was forced to end its West End run after occupants of a nearby apartment block complained.

Camden Council issued a noise abatement notice asking the theatre to reduce the volume of the show's live drumming.

Despite attempts from the producers to muffle the drums, they were unable to comply and the show closed after two months.

A spokesman for the council said they had "never wanted" the show to close, but added: "We have a legal obligation to protect the quality of our residents' lives."

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Click here to see the Your Politics report.

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What you can do:

The Noise Abatement Society runs a campaign to work with pubs and clubs in reducing late-night noise:
http://www.noiseabatementsociety.com/

The UK Noise Association campaigns on all forms of noise pollution - from aircraft to noisy neighbours:
http://www.superscript.co.uk/ukna/

The Noise Network is a voluntary organisation that has compiled a directory of "tranquil retreats" in the UK:
http://www.superscript.co.uk/tnn/

The World Health Organisation has produced several reports on Noise pollution:
http://www.who.int/
peh/noise/noiseindex.html

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Is noise pollution a serious problem? How have you dealt with anti-social noise? You sent us your reaction.

We are dealing with this problems in our area by the use of Pubwatch, a voluntary organisation run by the Licencees in partnership with the police. If anyone commits a public order offence, within the Ramey & District sector, which is alcohol related then the publicans ban the offender from all members Public Houses in this area for a period set by them. Further details of this scheme can be obtained from Cambridgeshire Constabulary with whom we are in partnership.
Ian Bennett, Cambridgeshire

We have experienced at first hand unfounded objections from residents

Diane Clemments, Leicester

I own a bar in Leicester city centre. We have been open for 26 months and have experienced at first hand unfounded objections from residents who have moved into some purpose-built city centre flats since we opened. If local councils wish to encourage people to reside in the city centres, perhaps they need to look at the location of residential accommodation.
Diane Clemments, Leicester

Leeds City council has a policy which seems to go against its own guidelines. In the new Millennium square, situated 30 metres from the front door of Leeds General Infirmary it regularly holds events such as concerts, fairs and general gatherings. Last night I visited my daughter who had had her tonsils removed. The noise on the ward was quite appalling even though this particular ward is neither on the top floor or on the building fronting millennium square. This noise continued until 22:45.and caused annoyance and discomfort to my daughter and undoubtedly to many other of the hundreds of sick people there. These events have gone on too long encouraged by the "City Fathers" who think that Leeds needs to be a 24 hour city even at the expense of sick people.
I>P Blair, Leeds

I don't believe there is a problem, most people that live near city centres should expect a certain amount of noise and if they don't like it, they can move somewhere else.
Mike Fallows, Bolton

The police replied any noise nuisance was not their responsibility

Peter Kendal, Oldham

We had a very unsettling experience last summer. A new neighbour set up a night-club style disco in his back garden, with one of those 3 foot tall super bass units. After asking for it to be removed indoors around 1.00 am we contacted Police at 2.00 am. The police replied any noise nuisance was not their responsibility and gave a contact number for the local council. The local council then advised they had no-one for call-out after 11.00 pm. A subsequent letter to Council elicited the response that any such complaints would be looked into with due regard to the number and frequency of occurrences and weighing the rights of the various parties involved!
Peter Kendal, Oldham