Neighbours complaining about my St Georges Day BBQ

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Hi people,
A couple of week ago me and my friends decided to throw a party to celebrate St Georges Day. I had wrong a letter to all my neighbours letting them know we were having a party and we would be having music which would be off by 12. We had the BBQ sorted and all the food and seating sorted outside but our stereo was broken.

So I thought, I know Ill set my DJ equipment, I got half way through and though "I know Ill do the whole hog and set some lighting up" I only used a Max 6 & 7 and a moonflower and positioned them all so not 1 beam went anywhere near the neighbours.

When people turned up they all said wow and as the night went on people said it were the best BBQ they had been to and everyone had a great laugh. The music wasnt stupidly loud just as loud as a normal stereo would go and the lughts on my mixer hardly flashed the first light. Then near the end of the night someone crashed it and started nicking peoples beers so we started to pack up.

The music were off by 11:30 and people gone by 11:45 but 2days later a letter still comes through the post from environmental health saying we are now under investigation :(

I've now called them and faxed them all the details even the letter I sent to the neighbours and they have said the investigation is over and we were in the right as we let everyone know :) I then told her that yes we will be having another party on big occasions specially to do with britain as we are very proud to be british :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm not sure how they can investigate this afterwards?

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Well they can give the neighbours little sensors which measure the amount of sounds coming from our house. If it goes over a certain amount we get a hefty fine

[Bouncy Dancefloor]

a few things that spring to mind here

firstly, your disco will be louder for the neighbours due to the size of your bass driver, without even realising it, its the bass that they can hear in their beds and a Disco size speaker will reproduce far more than a little 6" Hifi speaker

Giving your neighbours written warning that you will be breaking the law and having noise until midnight, does not make it ok. Yes its a nice courtesy, but they were in the right to complain

and thirdly, Gatecrasher? Break their legs for comign into your house and stealing your beer!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Giving your neighbours written warning that you will be breaking the law and having noise until midnight

How is that breaking the law? We don't know how loud it was? :confused:

[Javlingames]

I was under the impression 11pm was the cut off point for this sort of thing?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I was under the impression 11pm was the cut off point for this sort of thing?

Yeah, but we don't know how loud it was...

[visualdjmax]

Nice Neighbours! Obviously Jealous. Next time put more gear in!!!!!

[Bouncy Dancefloor]

In the garden, if its Audible to the guests at the party, then its Audible to people in the neighbouring houses

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Easy way to fix it......instead of sending the neighbours letters saying your having a party....send them invites! :D

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Well i did say if they want a burger pop round

[andyw]

Well i did say if they want a burger pop round

next time tell them to burger off

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Well i did say if they want a burger pop round

In that case i agree with the below! :D


next time tell them to burger off

[The_Blue_Dragon]

We used to have great neighbours and once had the largest party in the area as we had a full street party for VE-Day organised by us inwhich we had a stupidly large BBQ with spit roast, to give some cover we had a propper parachute which was made into a sort of large circus tent with a large pole in the middle etc.

But afew years have pasted and neighbours have moved out and others in who are just morbid and would never be happy with something like that

[rob1963]

I'm a bit puzzled by this situation.

I thought that in the case of noise complaints the officials came out there & then to speak to you about it.

As Darren said, how on earth can they investigate it afterwards?

Surely doing nothing at the time & sending you a letter several days later is a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

:shrug:

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Hahaha it is abit stupid, the letter just said they have recieved a complaint about a BBQ with loud music and disco lighting and that we are been investigated.

If this is going to happen everytime I might aswell do it in style with moving heads etc hahaha

[Adam_F]

Well they can give the neighbours little sensors which measure the amount of sounds coming from our house. If it goes over a certain amount we get a hefty fine

Investigations take months.

When a neightbour complained in an old flat I was in, Environment Health had to have received a minimum of letters of complaint, then they arranged a house visit with us to discus the problem, and what we could do to work on the situation and imporve it. If it got no better after a set amount of time (think it was 8 weeks), then a detection box would be (and was installed). Only then when they have 3 readings from this box can they take legal action.

This was around 7 years ago, so don't know for sure how it happens now, but thats what I had to go through.

(and I wasn't an :Censored: of a neighbour, the one complaining about us was going through a breakdown, and she didn't like us. As soon as the box went onto the wall, they realised she was making it up, as they had 4 more complaints off her and not one reading off the meter, so the counci moved her out of her flat LoL)

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Haha well our neighbours don't like the fact that my mom has moved out and left the house to me and my 2 brothers. There are 5houses and they like meet on the side of the road and chat about rubbish, abit like a mothers meeting haha.

When they first moved in our next door neighbours complained to the RSPCA that we had ducks and chickens on our back garden, they had been clipped and well looked after and hardly made any noise but they still complained and we had to get rid. Then they complained when my brother was restoring a car on our drive as it had no headlights for about 2month while he sorted some stuff to remove rust, the council came out and told us to turn it round as its defacing the street :o.

Then they complained about me coming home in the early hours of the morning even though I didnt make any noise (My nephew lived with us and never even woke)

Then they complained because we hadn't cut our grass again so yet again was defacing the street. I think they forget we live in High Green

[Babybob]

Have you got a caravan on your front lawn as well....:sofa:

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Hahaha no they would have a field day with that hahaha

[Dance FX]

My neighbours were a nightmare for a few years while their kids were teenagers. All night parties, lots of smoking drugs in the garden more all night parties offensive swearing in the garden, more all night parties, peeing up against our fence in the garden and 5 barking dogs!!

The kids have grown up and don't make so much noise now, the dogs still drive me up the wall BUT I have DJ Phill :D

I really don't mind how long and how loud he plays his lovely big RCF's ;)

Payback is a wonderful thing :)

I quite look forward to the day they come round to complain:D

Sarah

[Tom]

Have you got a caravan on your front lawn as well....:sofa:


Hahaha no they would have a field day with that hahaha


Have a word with Tony. I'm sure he could hook you up. ;):D JOKE. :lol:


Neighbours can be a right pain. I have wicked neighbours mind you. I can play drums for 2 hours solid and not a peep from them. We have a little agreement. I play drums and either side can have loud music when ever they want.
:D

Hi-fi Vs PA system. Ohh the joy. Wish I could though. :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I love my neighbour (well she lives in the flat below me) in her own words shes "Deaf as a post". I always keep neighbours in mind with volume but Im always listening to music or watching tv/games/films with the surround sound on.

I love my life :D

[Excalibur]

It's times like this I realise how lucky I am to live where I do. :D :D :D

I'll tell you about a hire years ago shortly. :D

[Jiggles]

Oh I love living in a detached Bungalow! :D

[DJWilson]

I always have my set up blaring out, im not sure if the neighbours complain but I can never hear them :D

[Excalibur]

OK, as promised.
Many years ago, I had an enquiry for a disco on a night when I was booked as a guest at a mate's wedding. In those days, I couldn't play the "I've got to earn money " card, as I was still a wage slave. ;) :D The punter was happy to take the offer of "self drive" at half price, and we could repatriate the gear on our way home, as it was very close to the wedding. :D :D

It was in a local small town, and the punter foresaw no problems, as "I've invited everybody from the next two streets". When we went to pick up the gear, we were baffled to see it sitting idle, and the hifi in the house running at low volume. :confused:

On emquiring how well things had gone, we were told " Pretty well, we only had the police round three times" . :eek: Turns out the complaints came from three streets away! :( :( :(

As a reminder of how sound travels outdoors, many years ago I did a gig locally at a farm over a mile in a straight line from my house. In those days, the PA was less than 500w of Tandy amps, and Heinz 57 cabs. My wife, who had left early as she often did, said that when she stood at our front door, she could tell when I was on the mic! :eek: :eek: Just shows how sound travels on a warm still Summer night. ;) :D :D

[andyw]

OK, as promised.



As a reminder of how sound travels outdoors, many years ago I did a gig locally at a farm over a mile in a straight line from my house. In those days, the PA was less than 500w of Tandy amps, and Heinz 57 cabs. My wife, who had left early as she often did, said that when she stood at our front door, she could tell when I was on the mic! :eek: :eek: Just shows how sound travels on a warm still Summer night. ;) :D :D

so your wife went home and she could still hear you,in my house it's the othe way round she goes home and i can still hear her ringing in my ears:p :)

[Penfold42]

Have you got a caravan on your front lawn as well....:sofa:
Nowt wrong with that...I say nowt wrong.....
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jucfI5we1HU/R8mcxFk3FwI/AAAAAAAAAhU/05v_dsZCoXA/s200/fred+and+ashley+butchers.jpg


Have a word with Tony. I'm sure he could hook you up. ;):D JOKE. :lol:

..yep...:lol:....but the gas bottles and broken down van....I do charge extra....:p :D

[secretDISCO]

Going back to the original point to this thread.
I think you'll find that NO audiable music of ANY kind can be played after 7pm.
Thats why ice cream vans blow a whistle after this time.(Strange but true)
When a complaint of noise is reported, you'll usually find that it has police involvement, who make a report, with incident number, and make it available for perusal by said enviroment agency.
Therefore you can receive word days after the act from "The Agency".
Usually a stern letter is suffice, but i have know these sort of matters to esculate.
Why do i know this??? it happened to me a few years ago.
:beer1: :beer1: :beer1:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think you'll find that NO audiable music of ANY kind can be played after 7pm.


For reference, have you a link to that information?

[andyw]

just found this on the net
Night time noise
The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 amended the Noise Act 1996 and enables local authorities in England and Wales to tackle night time noise emitted from dwellings and gardens between the hours of 11.00 pm and 7.00 am. To enforce these powers local authorities must ensure that an environmental health officer takes reasonable steps to investigate complaints about noise emitted from dwellings. If the officer is satisfied that noise exceeds the permitted level, a warning notice may be served on the person responsible. If the warning is ignored, the officer may issue a fixed penalty notice of £100, enter the dwelling and confiscate the noise making equipment (obstructing confiscation carries a fine of up to £1000), or prosecute (fine up to £1000). In Scotland similar action can be taken under the Anti-Social Behaviour (Noise Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.An extension of the Noise Act came into force in February 2008, enabling local authorities in England and Wales to tackle night time noise from licensed premises.

there is also this section

Loudspeakers

The use of loudspeakers in the streets is banned between 9.00 pm and 8.00 am (the police, ambulance and fire brigade are exempt). Local authorities can license use outside these hours – e.g. for entertainment but not for advertising purposes or electioneering. Vehicles selling perishable foods may use loudspeakers between 12.00 noon and 7.00 pm and these times can be varied with local authority consent. Complaints about loudspeakers or chimes should be made to the environmental health department.

here is the link
http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/noise/environmental-noise/noise-pollution/#wa473

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Just out of interest what happeans when people are booked to play in peoples back gardens? Ive only done one but it was in the countryside where houses were quite far away and all the neighbours where there but never done this in a built up area

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

That is what I like. Proper information and a decent link. Thank you for the second time today Andy. :thumbsup:

[DJWilson]

My neighbours have been banging out music for the past few weeks where we've had the sun and we dont mind so this summer decided to get the system out and have our own louder version :D

[rich333]

just found this on the net
Night time noise
The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 amended the Noise Act 1996 and enables local authorities in England and Wales to tackle night time noise emitted from dwellings and gardens between the hours of 11.00 pm and 7.00 am. To enforce these powers local authorities must ensure that an environmental health officer takes reasonable steps to investigate complaints about noise emitted from dwellings. If the officer is satisfied that noise exceeds the permitted level, a warning notice may be served on the person responsible. If the warning is ignored, the officer may issue a fixed penalty notice of £100, enter the dwelling and confiscate the noise making equipment (obstructing confiscation carries a fine of up to £1000), or prosecute (fine up to £1000). In Scotland similar action can be taken under the Anti-Social Behaviour (Noise Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.An extension of the Noise Act came into force in February 2008, enabling local authorities in England and Wales to tackle night time noise from licensed premises.

there is also this section

Loudspeakers

The use of loudspeakers in the streets is banned between 9.00 pm and 8.00 am (the police, ambulance and fire brigade are exempt). Local authorities can license use outside these hours – e.g. for entertainment but not for advertising purposes or electioneering. Vehicles selling perishable foods may use loudspeakers between 12.00 noon and 7.00 pm and these times can be varied with local authority consent. Complaints about loudspeakers or chimes should be made to the environmental health department.

here is the link
http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/noise/environmental-noise/noise-pollution/#wa473

Just thought I would jump in on this thread, so hope you dont mind.
I think you will find that it is the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which is used by local authorities to deal with noise.
There is nothing wrong with having a 'one off party'. It is when noise becomes a statutory nuisance i.e. in simply terms unreasonable that it becomes a problem and where the environmental health dept can take action.

[DJMaxG]

How is that breaking the law? We don't know how loud it was? :confused:

You're right, we don't know how loud it was. But if it can be heard standing on a Public road, I think it's against the law, without a Public Broadcast Licence, but saying that ... people's car radios can often be heard.

The part I can't understand is environmental health.

I would have thought complaints against noise are made directly to the Council, It's not really a health concern.

nothing was mentioned about food, and they weren't selling it. So why would it be that department.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You're right, we don't know how loud it was. But if it can be heard standing on a Public road, I think it's against the law, without a Public Broadcast Licence, but saying that ... people's car radios can often be heard.

The part I can't understand is environmental health.

I would have thought complaints against noise are made directly to the Council, It's not really a health concern.

nothing was mentioned about food, and they weren't selling it. So why would it be that department.

Just goes to prove that you are offering yet another opinion without knowing anything about the situation at all. :bang:

[Corabar Steve]

Just for Max http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_health

Scroll down to environmental health concerns & read.