Keep the music down or
risk losing your stereo
Newham Council is reminding
residents to consider their neighbours by not playing their music
too loudly, or risk a fine and possibly have their stereo
seized.
The warning comes as a Plaistow resident was ordered to
pay a total of £840 and had his stereo seized for disturbing his
neighbours with his loud music.
The council prosecuted Gary Jeeves of Balaam Street, after he
was caught breaching a noise abatement notice within a month of it
being served.
The case was heard in Jeeves' absence at Stratford Magistrates'
Court on March 12 where he was found guilty of contravening the
Environmental Protection Act 1990. He was fined £525 and ordered to
pay £300 costs plus £15 for victim surcharge.
The court heard the council's noise team had received complaints
about loud music being played at Jeeves' property and a noise
abatement notice was served in November 2008.
After the noise team witnessed three breaches of the notice,
music equipment, including a stereo, speakers, tuner and turntable
were seized from the property in December.
Councillor June Leitch, executive member for anti-social
behaviour, said: "It is complete arrogance to ignore a legal
warning as soon as it was served.
"No one should have to put up with this sort of behaviour. Noise
can badly affect people's quality of life and is known to be a
major reason for neighbours falling out.
"We will not hesitate in taking legal action against persistent
perpetrators of noise nuisance."