A RECORD haul of television sound equipment has been seized from the home of a noise pest.
Environmental health officers from Middlesbrough Council executed a warrant issued by Teesside magistrates at the house near Albert Park following a string of complaints.
Neighbours told of blaring music, often starting in the afternoon and continuing into the early hours, at such high volume it could be heard up to 15 doors away and caused walls to vibrate, Cllr Barry Coppinger pictured with some of the equipment confiscated.
The 38-year-old householder was served with a noise abatement notice in November last year - he subsequently breached it four times.
When environmental protection officers executed a warrant on Tuesday, giving them powers to seize all amplified sound equipment, they removed six televisions, numerous amplifiers, a DVD player, video players, a clock radio and four sets of speakers. The total of 26 items is the biggest haul of noise making equipment ever seized in the town.
The householder is now being prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act, and if convicted faces a fine of up to £5,000 and the destruction of all the equipment.
Principal environmental health officer Linda Cummins said: “The local authority has a duty to investigate all noise complaints.
“If we are satisfied that a statutory noise nuisance exists, then the person responsible will be served with an abatement notice.
“Failure to comply with the notice can lead to officers entering their homes, with force if necessary, and removing all equipment capable of producing amplified sound.�
Councillor Barry Coppinger, executive member for community protection, said: “Behaviour such as that demonstrated in this instance is totally unacceptable to residents and the council and we will not hesitate to act where evidence or information is brought to our attention.
“Of course people have a right to enjoy themselves, but that has to be balanced against consideration for those around them.
“It is particularly appropriate that this warrant should have been executed during Noise Awareness Week.�
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The householder is now being prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act, and if convicted faces a fine of up to £5,000 and the destruction of all the equipment."
Surely would it not be better to give the equipment to a local charity? They could then sell it on to people who will use it responsibly, thus saving landfill space and helping our community.
After a year of suffering from amplified noise coming from our neighbours premises, we obtained a Noise Abatement Order. Unfortunately, even this did not and following a visit from an Environmental Health Officer, steps are being taken to obtain a warrant to enter their premises and seize the equipment. Why don't people listen and take Court Orders seriously? Maybe it's because we don't complain enough. Hopefully our noise problems are now at an end, but it's taken a lot of time and effort to get to this point.