More about the noise team

 
 

About Westminster's noise team

Westminster's noise team is a beacon team. We operate a 24 hour, year round reactive service.

In the last year, we handled 18,898 calls.  We aim to respond to each complaint within 45 minutes. Currently, 97.02% of calls are handled in that period. We aim to respond to a non-noise complaint within four days.  Last year we prosecuted 20 people over noise and served 862 noise abatement notices.

The team specialise in:

  • noisy neighbours and dogs (including loud music and parties)
  • building sites, roadworks and DIY works 
  • prolonged ringing of burglar and car alarms
  • ventilation systems and plant noise
  • noisy vehicles, equipment or machinery in the street 
  • night clubs and licensed premises
  • odours and pests
  • drainage and waste accumulation

In an emergency we can also deal with:

  • Fatal accidents, Legionnaire’s disease and other health and safety issues
  • Food poisoning incidents and food inspections for emergency closure of premises
  • Housing issues, for example drainage problems and emergency rehousing cases

Basic procedure

Once we receive a complaint, we will contact the caller for further details, which may include:

  • type of complaint
  • how loud/large the problem is
  • where it is
  • how long/often it has been occurring

If the problem is ongoing, we will arrange to visit. The time arranged will be as soon as possible, following our Visit Prioritisation Guidelines.

If a statutory nuisance is witnessed a formal notice may be served. If the person responsible does not ensure that the nuisance is stopped within the time stated in the notice, we will consider prosecution. This could lead to a fine of up to £5,000 for residential premises and up to £20,000 for commercial premises.

Noise monitoring

The Environmental Science team are able to monitor and analyse noise. They will then produce an internal report within approximately four weeks. This report assists our noise officers deciding the best way to resolve the noise problem and can be used as evidence for prosecutions.

Proactive noise work

Westminster's noise team works closely with entertainment venues in order to assess their impact. We advise them on how much to reduce noise levels by, and use our visits to gain evidence for use by licensing, planning and other departments. Noise surveys are undertaken for cases which centre around planning refusals or licence applications and renewals.

Westminster has mapped the number of residents who are affected by high levels of noise. Where venues are causing a problem, we help set music limiters to control music levels. We also set limits, monitor and report on outdoor concerts and events such as Party in the Park and Notting Hill Carnival.

Further information