Noise pollution

Noise nuisance

Whereas most people would describe anything that annoys them as a nuisance, a statutory noise nuisance must be, in the opinion of the local authority officer, both excessive and unreasonable.

Reasonableness

The officer who investigates complaints is bound by the law and is guided by previous court judgements over what is reasonable. What might be deemed to be reasonable at 2.00pm in the afternoon might not be reasonable at 2.00am in the morning.

Noise from commercial or industrial premises

Some of the most common types of noise nuisances from commercial or industrial premises include:

Loud machinery noise
Fan noise
Noise from vehicles (except from the road)
Machinery in the street such as compressors
Loud music from pubs and clubs
Construction or demolition noise
Noise from fairgrounds

If you are suffering from any of the above types of noise nuisance, please contact the Environmental Protection team on 0161 909 6500 or use our online reporting facility.

If the noise is intermittent it would help with the investigation if you would complete the below nuisance record sheets, giving the time, duration and date of the noise.

Noise nuisance from domestic premises

Below are some typical types of noise that cause nuisance between domestic premises:

Music from parked vehicles
Noise from your neighbours
Alarms
Bells
Excessive party noise
Excessive DIY noise that has been ongoing for four weeks or more or occurs between the hours of 9.00pm to 8.00am
Barking dogs

If you are suffering from one of the above types of noise in the first instance the council would expect those who are affected by nuisance to seek to resolve the matter themselves.

You are advised to try and resolve the matter informally by speaking to the person causing you the problem as in many instances the source of the nuisance does not know that they are causing a problem.

If this approach fails, or you don't feel safe in speaking to the person, please gather evidence of the occurrence and extent of the nuisance you are suffering. This evidence provides important information to allow the council to be able to take the matter further.

Therefore, you must have completed a nuisance record sheet (available for download at the bottom of this page) for a minimum of two weeks before the complaint will be taken forward to a formal investigation.

Alternatively, if you would like a copy to be sent to you by post, please call 0161 909 6500 or email environment@salford.gov.uk.

In appropriate cases, the service can take formal action against those individuals who are found to be causing a statutory nuisance, if there is sufficient reliable evidence.