How do I make a complaint about noise?

If you have made an attempt to remedy a noise problem and you have not achieved a satisfactory solution, you can make a complaint to South Ribble Borough Council. 

South Ribble Borough Council has a duty to investigate complaints of noise from premises (land and buildings) and vehicles, machinery or equipment in the street.

Under Sections 80 and 81 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended by the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993) Local Authorities have a duty to deal with any noise which they consider to be a statutory nuisance.

As well as dealing with existing problems, these controls also cover noise that is expected to occur or recur. For legal purposes, noise includes vibration.

Who do I complain to?

If you want to make a complaint about noise, you should contact South Ribble Borough Council's Environmental Health Team on Telephone: 01772 625340 or Email: envhealth@southribble.gov.uk.

In the first instance, record of nuisance sheets and guidance notes will be sent to you for completion over a period of 2-4 weeks. These should be returned to Environmental HealthTeam.

Where officers are satisfied that there is a case to investigate, based on the information you have supplied, they will try to solve the problem informally. If this fails they will contact you to arrange a time to visit in an attempt to witness the noise, either a visit will be made by one of the officers or equipment will be left. The time will be one which your record of nuisance sheets indicate as being when the noise is likely to be happening.

If Environmental Health staff witness the noise and officers are satisfied that a nuisance is occurring, a noise abatement notice will be served on the person causing the disturbance. This may require the noise to be stopped altogether or limited to certain times of the day. A Notice must be served on the person responsible for the noise or, in certain circumstances, the owner or occupier of the premises, or the offending vehicle, machinery or equipment. A person on whom an Abatement Notice has been served has a right of appeal within 21 days of it being served.

If officers do not witness the noise then you will be advised, in writing, on how to pursue your own legal action.