Response to recent media reports about noise complaints
Eric Pickles responds to recent media reports about noise complaints.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:
鈥淚n recent years, too many town halls have been over-zealous in trying to silence church bells and village clocks which have chimed for decades, if not centuries. We need some common sense about such long-standing community uses, and recognise such sounds are part of the fabric of Britain鈥檚 national life, rather than trying to white-wash all the character out of our heritage in some politically correct, 鈥榚lf and safety purge.
鈥淢y department has now issued new, clear guidance to councils that the local character of a place should be taken into account during noise disputes, whilst ensuring councils still have powers to tackle new noise pollution that was never previously there.
鈥淚f people don鈥檛 like the chime of a church bell that has sounded for centuries, they reflect on whether they want to live next door to a church in the first place, or they should consider the merits of double glazing.鈥�
Background
See on noise guidance.
The guidance issued has helped to protect landlords from the crippling costs associated with soundproofing their venues.