03/12/2004

Report reveals high level of noise complaints

There have been more than 8,000 complaints regarding noise to local councils over the past year, it was revealed today.

A new report, published by DoE Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) on Friday, showed 8,397 noise complaints were made to Councils during 2003/04 with the majority of these (52%) were received by Belfast City Council.

When adjusted for population size, significant numbers of complaints were also received by Coleraine and Carrickfergus Councils. Fermanagh and Cookstown had the lowest level of noise complaints.

An EHS spokesperson said: “The vast majority of complaints (82%) made to District Councils, were in relation to noise from domestic premises, such as loud music and barking dogs.

“Commercial premises and leisure facilities accounted for 9% of all noise complaints, with the main source being pubs and clubs. Only 2% of complaints related to noise from industrial activities.”

The report on noise complaint statistics provides information on the number and type of noise complaints, received by all 26 District Councils in Northern Ireland, for the period 2003/2004.

District Councils have the main responsibility for investigating and dealing with most types of complaint from the public about noise nuisance.

(MB/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

15 August 2006
Number of noise complaints rise in NI
The Department of Environment (DOE) has today revealed that noise complaints in Northern Ireland have increased by 13% over the last year. The report provides information relating to the number and type of noise complaints received by all 26 district councils in Northern Ireland, from 2005 to 2006.
01 August 2022
Over 9% Fall In Number Of Noise Complaints
The number of noise complaints received by district councils between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020 decreased by 9.6%, according to a report published today by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Figures collated by district councils show that a total of 11,356 complaints were received in 2018/19, down 9.
07 July 2005
Noise complaints on the increase
A new report published today by the DoE's Environment and Heritage Service has revealed that noise complaints increased by 20% last year. The statistics show that there were 10,047 noise complaints made to Northern Ireland’s 26 District Councils in 2004/05. Over half of the complaints were received by Belfast City Council.
24 January 2005
Noise Awareness campaign launched
A new Noise Awareness Campaign which aims to inform noisy neighbours that ‘Too Loud is Not Allowed!’ has been launched by the DOE’s Environment and Heritage Service. Recently released figures estimate that one in four people in the UK suffer noise disturbance from neighbours.
17 December 2008
Noisy Neighbours Plague Belfast, Says Report
'Love thy Neighbour' may be a commandment that is one of the hardest to follow around NI's capital city as Belfast has proved to be the noisiest neighbourhood in Northern Ireland.