Noise – don’t suffer in silence

An update on complaining about noise disturbance

At a meeting in July, RBK’s Principal Pollution Control Officer explained some of the difficulties of tackling occasional noise from a moving source such as Turk’s disco-boats, but was very willing to take action if there were well supported complaints. As a condition of its extended license Turks has fitted noise-limiting devices to its disco-boats, but the level has yet to be agreed.The Officer intends to monitor the noise level in the CARA area one night when Turks has a late booking.

Riverside residents who are disturbed need to collect and log the relevant information (see next section) including the name of the boat (easier said than done in the dark!). CARA Committee also needs to build up a file of complaints so that we can take action if necessary. Two riverside residents,have offered to gather up disco-boat noise complaints so please copy emails to Kingston Council to Rob Baldwin; Claire Ferguson (CARA Committee member).

RBK has recently changed or moved some of its web-pages on noise complaints, so here are some updated useful links:http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/environment/environmental_health/noise_nuisance.htm defines “statutary noise nuisance” and the kind of information the Council needs in order to take action: how often the noise occurs; its duration; how loud it is; the time of day/night; the character of the noise (whether it has any particularly annoying characteristics); the nature of the area. You can download RBK’s form for logging noise disturbance from http://www.kingston.gov.uk/logsheet_-_domestic_noise1.pdf.

http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/environment/environmental_health/noise_nuisance/noise_from_licensed_premises.htm explains the situation regarding licensed premises such as Turks disco-boats and Boaters (which can now sell alcohol and have music up to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays - a condition of their licence is that no doors or windows are left open when music is being played).

If you need to talk to a member of the Environmental Health Service you can phone 020 8547 5536 or email environmental.health@rbk.kingston.gov.uk.

To complain about noise on-line, go to http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/environment/environmental_health/noise_nuisance/noise_pollution_form.htm