Blaby District Council

Summary

Noise in the street can cause annoyance. Examples of noise in the streets include noise from vehicles, loudspeakers, buskers or ice cream vans.

Further information

Vehicles, machinery or equipment

Nuisance may be caused by noise from vehicles such as car alarms, car stereos, noisy car repairs, and parked refrigerator vehicles.

This type of noise occurring for a long period of time or on a frequent basis could constitute a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under this legislation, the council can serve a legal notice on the person responsible for the noise or the owner of the machinery or vehicle, if it witnesses a statutory nuisance. This notice would require that person to stop the noise.

Certain activities such as road works and works by electricity and water companies are generally exempt from these requirements.

Loudspeakers

The use of loudspeakers in the street is banned for advertising entertainments, trades or businesses at any time, and restricts the use of loudspeakers used for other purposes in the street between 8am and 9pm.

The council can consent to the operation of loudspeakers for non-advertising purposes outside these times, but should take local opinion into account. The maximum penalty for illegally using a loudspeaker is £5,000.

Buskers

If you are being disturbed by a performer, consider how long they have been there. If it is over an hour, try approaching them informally.

This type of noise occurring for a long period of time or on a frequent basis could constitute a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Under this legislation, the council can serve a legal notice on the person responsible for the noise, if an officer from the council witnesses a statutory nuisance. This notice would require that person to either top the noise, reduce the volume or length of time in one place.

Ice cream vans

If you are bothered by noise from ice cream chimes, Environmental Protection Officers will investigate complaints of noise from vendors that do not follow the code of practice.

Chimes should not sound:

• for longer than four seconds at a time - use an automatic cut out device;
• more often than once every three minutes;
• when the vehicle is stationary;
• except on approach to a selling point;
• when in sight of another ice cream van which is trading;
• when within 50 meters of schools (during school hours), hospitals, and places of worship (on Sundays and any other recognised days of worship);
• more often than once every two hours in the same street; or
• louder than 80dB(A) at 7.5 meters (contact your local authority for advice).

It is an offence to sound chimes:

• before noon and after 7pm; or
• at any time in a way which gives a reasonable cause for annoyance.

External websites

• Environmental Protection (external link)

Contact us

Officer / Team	Environmental Protection Team
Postal address	Blaby District Council Council Offices Desford Road Narborough Leicester LE19 2EP
E-mail address	env.health@blaby.gov.uk
Telephone	0116 272 7555
Fax	0116 272 7594

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This page was last updated on 24th September 2009