Noise that amounts to a nuisance can be either continuous or intermittent, but in either case the total effect must be such that it would materially affect the comfort or quality of life of a reasonable person. The key points here are that the effect on your comfort or quality of life must be a substantial one and that your response to the noise is wholly reasonable.

There are three kinds of nuisance in law: public, private and statutory. The Council deals with 'statutory nuisances' - these are particular nuisances identified in various Acts of Parliament. These are criminal offences.

Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993, contains the main legislation that the local authority uses to deal with statutory nuisance. The activities in question have to be considered prejudicial to health (causing injury or likely to cause injury) or a nuisance (interfering with someone's personal comfort or enjoyment).

Hounslow Council employs eight Pollution Control Officers to investigate nuisance and assess whether it can be considered to be a statutory nuisance.

The Officer takes into account the locality of the nuisance, the frequency, duration and the time that the nuisance occurs. It is, therefore, very important that detailed records are kept by the complainant of the incidents of nuisance. The Officer may need to witness the nuisance. However, the Officer will only experience a "snapshot" of the nuisance and will have to rely on the complainant's records before taking further action.

Once it has been established that a statutory nuisance exists and is likely to occur or recur, an Officer will issue an abatement notice. If this notice is then ignored the perpetrator can be prosecuted in the Magistrates' Court and fined.

You can contact us using the details below:

Pollution Control Team
Street Management & Public Protection Department
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN

Fax: 020 8583 5350
Tel: 020 8583 5555
E-mail: pollution@hounslow.gov.uk