Falkirk Council

Noise can be defined as unwanted sound. It can be a source of irritation and annoyance and can interfere with peaceful enjoyment of one's home.

Complaints about noise have increased dramatically over the past few years and the Environmental Protection Unit spends a large proportion of time dealing with noise complaints.

Unfortunately, there is no 'quick fix' in dealing with noise complaints and they can take some time to resolve effectively. 

Environmental Protection can deal with noise from a wide variety of sources such as:

• privately owned and occupied houses
• houses rented from a private landlord or housing association
• commercial and industrial premises
• pubs, clubs and other places of entertainment
• construction and demolition sites
• ice cream vans.

Other agencies, such as the Police and Falkirk Council Housing services can also deal with noise complaints in certain circumstances.

If you are bothered by noise, first of all try approaching the person, household or business concerned and tell them about the problem. Be polite and discuss a possible compromise. If that doesn't work, keep a diary of dates, times and types of excessive noise. If you decide to make a formal complaint, contact the Environmental Health Unit if the noise nuisance in question is on the above list.

What will the Environmental Protection Unit do?

Environmental Protection will investigate complaints and will normally contact the person or company responsible for making the noise. If there is no improvement, we may visit your house at a time when the noise nuisance is likely to occur in order to witness it, or we may install noise monitoring equipment into your house to record the noise. We try to keep complainants' names confidential, but this is not always possible. If we believe the noise amounts to a Statutory Nuisance, an Abatement Notice can be served on the person responsible for making the noise requiring the noise to be stopped or limited in some way. If the Abatement Notice is not complied with, the person can be prosecuted and fined in the Sheriff  Court.

Antisocial and neighbour noise |

If the noise is coming from a council house or garden, contact Housing Services at your local One Stop Shop, or Housing Office. They will give advice, investigate complaints and take action if necessary.

Central Scotland Police should be contacted if the noise nuisance is being caused by car horns and noisy vehicles, disturbances and rowdy behaviour (breach of the peace), loud parties and music which is loud enough to require immediate action. A warning will usually be given if the Police are called out to a noisy party. However, the Police also have the power to confiscate noise making equipment, such as a stereo, if the warnings are not heeded.

Barking dogs|

In cases where barking dogs are causing the noise nuisance, the Environmental Protection will write to the owner of the dog advising that a complaint has been made and providing information on practical steps that can be taken to prevent excessive barking. The complainant will be sent details of how to apply to the District Court under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for an Order to prevent the noise, should the barking continue.

Construction and demolition noise|

For noise from construction or demolition sites, we can require companies to adhere to a standard set of working hours in order to minimise noise disturbance to local residents:

• Monday - Friday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
• Saturday: 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Sunday and bank holidays: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Notice can be served on companies who do not keep to these times when working in the Falkirk area.

Please contact us for further advice on noise nuisance.