Constant noise emanating in to your house can drive you around the bend.
Especially at night. We’ve all been in bed knowing there is an early start the next day and been angered by the constant noise from neighbours.
Whether you are living next door to a party house, dogs are continually barking or their car alarm has gone off for the eighteenth time this week, it is inevitably stressful.
And if the issue is particularly anti-social than the council, or even the police can get involved and those responsible can face hefty fines.
And it appears to be a significant issue in Bristol, although one that has lessened in recent years.
The ten noisiest streets in Bristol
The complaints over the last ten years
- Hampton Road 135
- Gloucester Road 135
- Fishponds Road 131
- Bishport Avenue 98
Whiteladies Road 89
Stapleton Road 82
- Queens Road 82
- North Street 81
- West Street 76
- York Road 66
- Stokes Croft 59
What to do if you have a noise problem
Talk to your neighbour
The first step suggested it to try and sort the problem informally. It sounds obvious but sometimes it can be nipped in the bud as they may not even realise their sound system speaker is up against your bed’s wall.
Anyone worried about talking to their neighbour could try writing them a letter. Explaining the problem clearly and sticking to the facts is the best advice.
Talking to other neighbours to see if they are affected is also advised.
The noise the council can investigate
- Noisy neighbours
- Alarms, including car and van alarms
- Barking dogs
- Building sites
- Deliveries or waste collections at commercial premises
- Noisy equipment in the street or commercial premises
- Pubs and clubs
- Roadworks
The noise the council can’t investigate
- Traffic
- Aircraft
Contacting the council
If the noise problem isn’t sorted informally then you can contact Bristol City Council, or your local authority.
This can be done online here or from Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5pm or Fridays from 8.30am to 4.30pm by ringing 0117 922 2500 and choosing option 4.
Out of hours
Bristol City Council does run an out of hours service at these times.
Sunday to Tuesday, 7.30pm to midnight
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7.30pm to 1am
Fridays and Saturdays, 7.00pm to 3.30am
If you want an officer to visit you can call 0117 9222050. But the council has just two officers covering the whole city and so there could be a delay in response and the service is not available on Bank Holidays.
What can the police do?
- Rowdy and drunken behaviour
- Inconsiderate use of vehicles
- Fires
- Raves
Contact the police
To report noise that spills over to anti-social behaviour – given the criteria above – to the police, you can report it online here or ring 101. Only dial 999 in an emergency.
Bristol Mediation
Mediation is also available in Bristol and is free, confidential and impartial.
You can contact them on 0117 941 5379, e-mail info@bristol-mediation.org or log on by clicking here .
