From Herefordshire Council:
Local residents are being encouraged to be mindful of their neighbours this summer by avoiding noise pollution – and to be aware of how to report noise complaints.
Herefordshire Council receives up to 1000 noise complaints a year, with a 50% increase over the summer months.
Most summer noise complaints are about loud music, parties, barking dogs and loud factory equipment, so the council is urging residents and businesses to be mindful of others, and to be aware of how they can report excessive noise in their neighbourhoods.
Every weekend throughout July and August, Noise officers from the council’s Environmental Protection Team will be out and about across the county on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Out of Hours (OOH) initiative is jointly funded by the Herefordshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP), and the goal is to make our city and town centres feel safer with an increased officer presence and actions to protect from anti-social behaviour, nuisance and crime behaviours.
Officers will be on duty into the early hours of the morning monitoring noise hot spots and investigating noise complaints.
Our aim is to assist everyone across the county to enjoy the summer in a respectful, safe and neighbourly manner. Where there are anti-social behaviour and nuisance problems between neighbours, we would also like to encourage people to communicate their concerns with each other in a respectful manner.
Where this is not the case, the council’s enforcement officers will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action where necessary. In 2024/25 Herefordshire Council received 4273 community nuisance and antisocial behaviour enquiries, resulting in advice, investigation, or enforcement.
Cllr Barry Durkin, Cabinet Member Roads and Regulatory Services, said: “Everybody has the right to enjoy their summers, and while some noise is inevitable in work and home activities, we would politely request that people consider the noise they are generating and think about how excessive and prolonged noise could affect their neighbours’ quality of life.
“Whether keeping people awake at night or stopping them from enjoying their home life during the day, excessive noise can be a real problem. We urge people to take simple steps such as informing neighbours of a planned party or leaving contact details if a dog is going to be unattended, to help minimise complaints and allow you to be contacted directly if any problems arise.
“We thank the vast majority of residents and businesses in Herefordshire who are considerate of their neighbours, but we will take firm action against the small minority who persist in causing noise nuisance.”
More information on being a good neighbour this summer can be found on our website.
Herefordshire Council’s out of hours noise team will be available from 9pm to 2am every Friday and Saturday evening throughout July and August.
They can be reached by emailing ethelpline@herefordshire.gov.uk or completing the online ‘Contact us’ form: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/council/contact-us.
