Environmental Health regarding noise pollution
Discussion
Is anyone on here an Environmental Health Officer or fully understands the recommendations when it comes to noise pollution?
Many years ago we moved close to a nice quiet country pub, that now has a licence to play live music.
For a few years this has not been an issue, but since a new manager's arrival this year, the live music at weekends is from 4pm through to 11pm or 12pm under special licence and is significantly louder.
2 separate phones, albeit with non calibrated apps are recording noise levels constantly between 90 and 95 decibels.
We have spoken to the manager without any resolution, reported to our Council who have just stated the pub has a licence for music.
Surely there should be a recommended noise level for outdoor pub music in a residential area?
Many years ago we moved close to a nice quiet country pub, that now has a licence to play live music.
For a few years this has not been an issue, but since a new manager's arrival this year, the live music at weekends is from 4pm through to 11pm or 12pm under special licence and is significantly louder.
2 separate phones, albeit with non calibrated apps are recording noise levels constantly between 90 and 95 decibels.
We have spoken to the manager without any resolution, reported to our Council who have just stated the pub has a licence for music.
Surely there should be a recommended noise level for outdoor pub music in a residential area?
We had a nieghbour making rediculose amount of noise all day , every day.,....I attempted to reason with him and failed ......contacted enviroment health who installed a noise recorder......and then went to the nieghbour and told him ....so basically ticked a box , we're doing something , while making sure they didn't have to do anything........
Not much help to you , but an indicater of what you're up against
Not much help to you , but an indicater of what you're up against
Art Keller said:
We had a nieghbour making rediculose amount of noise all day , every day.,....I attempted to reason with him and failed ......contacted enviroment health who installed a noise recorder......and then went to the nieghbour and told him ....so basically ticked a box , we're doing something , while making sure they didn't have to do anything........
Not much help to you , but an indicater of what you're up against
ThanksNot much help to you , but an indicater of what you're up against
Exactly how close do you live??
90-95 dB is really very loud, especially if you are some distance away.
Exposure limits are in place for employees that indicate acceptable levels for those working at a venue - one would hope similar applies to those affected in nearby areas...?!
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/health-safety-wellbe...
Buy yourself a proper dB meter that can record A- and C-weighted exposure (one excludes the bass frequencies, which are (AIUI) generally assumed to cause less damage, but I can't remember which is which) and then start taking down some exposure figures. Videos of the dB meter readings shot on the phones should assist any evidence base you might wish to put to the local Environmental Health team.
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/test-measurement/en...
90-95 dB is really very loud, especially if you are some distance away.
Exposure limits are in place for employees that indicate acceptable levels for those working at a venue - one would hope similar applies to those affected in nearby areas...?!
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/health-safety-wellbe...
Buy yourself a proper dB meter that can record A- and C-weighted exposure (one excludes the bass frequencies, which are (AIUI) generally assumed to cause less damage, but I can't remember which is which) and then start taking down some exposure figures. Videos of the dB meter readings shot on the phones should assist any evidence base you might wish to put to the local Environmental Health team.
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/test-measurement/en...
I can speak from experience here as I once lived next door to the sleepy village pub, that then turned into a live music venue when a new landlord took over.....
It was idyllic to begin with, the mellow clink of glasses, murmered conversations and everything quite by 11:00.... Then the new landlord arrived, the licensing rules changed and suddenly it was (crap) live music every weekend, sometimes 'til 01:00am.....
We went down the local council environmental health route, noise pollution etc. took measurements, made a diary and everything that went with that...... but, truth is, it was a mistake. We no longer enjoyable living there, we dreaded the weekends and the solution was to move somewhere where we weren't living next to a pub....
So that's what we did.
Sorry, that won't be the answer you are looking for, but we'll never make the mistake of living next to a pub again. You can do all the environmental health stuff if you like, but my advice would be not to - don't make the mistake of creating yourself an issue that you then need to declare in your homeowner selling pack when you put your house on the market. Listen carefully to your inner voice and start looking for a new place to live. Noisy neighbours never get better.
It was idyllic to begin with, the mellow clink of glasses, murmered conversations and everything quite by 11:00.... Then the new landlord arrived, the licensing rules changed and suddenly it was (crap) live music every weekend, sometimes 'til 01:00am.....
We went down the local council environmental health route, noise pollution etc. took measurements, made a diary and everything that went with that...... but, truth is, it was a mistake. We no longer enjoyable living there, we dreaded the weekends and the solution was to move somewhere where we weren't living next to a pub....
So that's what we did.
Sorry, that won't be the answer you are looking for, but we'll never make the mistake of living next to a pub again. You can do all the environmental health stuff if you like, but my advice would be not to - don't make the mistake of creating yourself an issue that you then need to declare in your homeowner selling pack when you put your house on the market. Listen carefully to your inner voice and start looking for a new place to live. Noisy neighbours never get better.
Thanks everyone.
We have already contacted the Council as have all of our other neighbours, so I guess we will always have to declare this.
I may just try to have a chat with our EHO who has sent a notification to the pub and sent a form for us all to complete.
I am just trying to understand/find if there is any noise limit for outside pub music, but can't find anything using a search engine, which I find bizarre!
We have already contacted the Council as have all of our other neighbours, so I guess we will always have to declare this.
I may just try to have a chat with our EHO who has sent a notification to the pub and sent a form for us all to complete.
I am just trying to understand/find if there is any noise limit for outside pub music, but can't find anything using a search engine, which I find bizarre!
We lived next to a quiet pub that changed landlords frequently. They each came in with their ideas which generally created noise. We tried to resolve with pub and brewery but got no where, so went to EO.
We raised complaints and EO did not do much....but I believe that every strike goes on file, so it tightens the noise whenever they applied for a licence. A carefully written diary of events and communications with EO, and sensible enails/letters on record is a must.
We never had to declare any of this when we sold our house as there was no 'dispute'.
Lived there for 9 years. It really ground me down. I hated it. The day we moved out, I did not look back. Best thing we ever did.
The error was...the pub was OK to start with...but things never stay the same. It is hard running a pub...so every money making idea, no matter how stupid, came to fruition.
I will never ever live next door to a pub again.
We raised complaints and EO did not do much....but I believe that every strike goes on file, so it tightens the noise whenever they applied for a licence. A carefully written diary of events and communications with EO, and sensible enails/letters on record is a must.
We never had to declare any of this when we sold our house as there was no 'dispute'.
Lived there for 9 years. It really ground me down. I hated it. The day we moved out, I did not look back. Best thing we ever did.
The error was...the pub was OK to start with...but things never stay the same. It is hard running a pub...so every money making idea, no matter how stupid, came to fruition.
I will never ever live next door to a pub again.
TUS373 said:
The error was...the pub was OK to start with...but things never stay the same. It is hard running a pub...so every money making idea, no matter how stupid, came to fruition.
I will never ever live next door to a pub again.
Yep. We have one approx 150 yards away, but there's another single storey building in between which blocks a good chunk of the noise. They do Sky Sports so it's always crazy busy whenever Newcastle are playing but that's fine. It's the karaoke they're now doing which you can hear a full mile away and this year also seems to have become a mecca for all the 'ape hanger' bikers to meet at whenever the sun's out so we are deafened by all these attention-seekers blipping the throttle for hours in the car park then screaming up and down the road at 200dB with their nonexistent exhausts. It does get wearing but would never dream of complaining about it as they were here when we moved here and presumably have all the correct trading licences in place, but being honest neither of us will shed a tear if the place closes down at some point in the future.I will never ever live next door to a pub again.
Wings said:
Whilst I sympathise with the OP, buying a residential property next to a pub, is one of several locations I would not give consideration to buying a property, school, church, traffic lights, railway lines and crossings etc. etc.
As for the OP, I hope he sorts the noise issue out.
A neighbour of mine moved last year to a house next door to a petrol station, that has an attached working garage, which also fabricates exhaust systems. Directly opposite is a railway station with level crossing. On the other side of the house is a large pub, the only one for miles that does live music, weddings etc. The cherry on top is it’s also not far from a major trunk road.As for the OP, I hope he sorts the noise issue out.
Absolutely mental.
We lived next to a quiet pub that changed landlords frequently. They each came in with their ideas which generally created noise. We tried to resolve with pub and brewery but got no where, so went to EO.
We raised complaints and EO did not do much....but I believe that every strike goes on file, so it tightens the noise whenever they applied for a licence. A carefully written diary of events and communications with EO, and sensible enails/letters on record is a must.
We never had to declare any of this when we sold our house as there was no 'dispute'.
Lived there for 9 years. It really ground me down. I hated it. The day we moved out, I did not look back. Best thing we ever did.
The error was...the pub was OK to start with...but things never stay the same. It is hard running a pub...so every money making idea, no matter how stupid, came to fruition.
I will never ever live next door to a pub again.
We raised complaints and EO did not do much....but I believe that every strike goes on file, so it tightens the noise whenever they applied for a licence. A carefully written diary of events and communications with EO, and sensible enails/letters on record is a must.
We never had to declare any of this when we sold our house as there was no 'dispute'.
Lived there for 9 years. It really ground me down. I hated it. The day we moved out, I did not look back. Best thing we ever did.
The error was...the pub was OK to start with...but things never stay the same. It is hard running a pub...so every money making idea, no matter how stupid, came to fruition.
I will never ever live next door to a pub again.
A famous ex BTCC driver/car dealer moved next door to a working dairy farm and put in a noise and smell complaint.
Next race everywhere he went was accompanied by people making subtle moo noises.
He got very annoyed (as was his wont)
(Edit to say I know this is different to the OP’s case and hope it gets suitably resolved, 95dB is ridiculously loud)
Next race everywhere he went was accompanied by people making subtle moo noises.
He got very annoyed (as was his wont)
(Edit to say I know this is different to the OP’s case and hope it gets suitably resolved, 95dB is ridiculously loud)
Edited by ChevronB19 on Sunday 12th July 09:04
It is awful living next to or near noise, as it tends to become a focal point of certain aspects of your life, I have had it with traffic at times, and there is not a lot you can do about that, but luckily if you rent its easier to move about.
We have a pub in our village that has music on in weekend evenings, at times, it is not especially loud really, and finishes at a good time but it does totally dominate the area which if you are trying to relax at home or in a garden or just out walking is a shame.
Yet if you comment on it you are pilloried by the drinking masses. Usual crap really.
We have a pub in our village that has music on in weekend evenings, at times, it is not especially loud really, and finishes at a good time but it does totally dominate the area which if you are trying to relax at home or in a garden or just out walking is a shame.
Yet if you comment on it you are pilloried by the drinking masses. Usual crap really.
OP, the phrase you need to be using is "noise nuisance". The noise levels you are describing are exceptionally loud, so much so I'd question them. Press your local environmental health to monitor it so its not just you claiming a certain level.
You need to get others to lobby your local council as well. Who else is adversely affected by this? The more complaints the more pressure for EH to act.
The fact the pub has a license that (through deregulation) allows music is in your favour. It can be taken away although this is very rare. Temporary events notices that extend the times of that license can be refused.
The fact you moved near a pub is meaningless. The business (of a pub) has no right to cause unreasonable disturbance.
ETA: IANAL... but I did go through 3 years of EH and noise issues (defending)
You need to get others to lobby your local council as well. Who else is adversely affected by this? The more complaints the more pressure for EH to act.
The fact the pub has a license that (through deregulation) allows music is in your favour. It can be taken away although this is very rare. Temporary events notices that extend the times of that license can be refused.
The fact you moved near a pub is meaningless. The business (of a pub) has no right to cause unreasonable disturbance.
ETA: IANAL... but I did go through 3 years of EH and noise issues (defending)
Edited by 21TonyK on Sunday 12th July 10:43
Anyone any experience of dealing with farmyard noises - particularly chickens? We live next to a field and the tenant has decided to keep chickens including a rooster which makes a persistent "cock-a-doodle-doo". It is just about OK during the day but not good a 4 a.m. and wakes me up - and then I can't settle back because the noise is repeated at random intervals. It's worse at the moment as we have to windows open because of the heat. I have suggested the owner get a recipe for coq au vin - but does this constitute an environmental health problem and what measures are available to deal with it?
Beggarall said:
Anyone any experience of dealing with farmyard noises - particularly chickens? We live next to a field and the tenant has decided to keep chickens including a rooster which makes a persistent "cock-a-doodle-doo". It is just about OK during the day but not good a 4 a.m. and wakes me up - and then I can't settle back because the noise is repeated at random intervals. It's worse at the moment as we have to windows open because of the heat. I have suggested the owner get a recipe for coq au vin - but does this constitute an environmental health problem and what measures are available to deal with it?
There is a bumper crop of parakeets this year around where I live. They are very loud and start at 4am. Can anything be done?ETA whoosh parakeet anyone?
Thanks again everyone, we are in a small close of 5 houses and all owners are impacted and are in contact with the council.
We are in contact with the EHO and will try to set up a meeting with him next week whilst we record noise levels.
Friday night was up at 95 decibels, whilst last night's was a mere 60 decibels which we have no issue with.
I have found out that most council entertainment licences should attach strict music nouse level at 65 decibel at the nearest residential facade, which this significantly exceeds.
It will be interesting to see if Dorset Council's licencing has this!
We are in contact with the EHO and will try to set up a meeting with him next week whilst we record noise levels.
Friday night was up at 95 decibels, whilst last night's was a mere 60 decibels which we have no issue with.
I have found out that most council entertainment licences should attach strict music nouse level at 65 decibel at the nearest residential facade, which this significantly exceeds.
It will be interesting to see if Dorset Council's licencing has this!
TUS373 said:
We never had to declare any of this when we sold our house as there was no 'dispute'.
Very much wrong.Not sure how long you are on the hook for that error, probably 6 years, maybe longer.
The buyers have many (all not good for you) options available to them including rejecting the purchase and seeking large sums of money in compensation.
OP - you have the legal right to peaceful enjoyment of your property.
The noise nuisance violates this.
You can challenge the pub owner for this violation.
Best done via your legal expenses cover on your house insurance, which you will need before any initial complaint is made.
Otherwise it's remortgage time.
Or move.
But you will need to declare the issue as a dispute on the TA6 form.
I can remember someone on here saying how they dealt with noisy house mates whilst at university.
They had a three pin plug with the positive and negative pins connected internally so if the house mates started being inconsiderate they put the plug into a socket and turned it on tripping out the entire house
No use to the O/P but I always thought it was a genius way of solving a problem
They had a three pin plug with the positive and negative pins connected internally so if the house mates started being inconsiderate they put the plug into a socket and turned it on tripping out the entire house
No use to the O/P but I always thought it was a genius way of solving a problem
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