Ipswich records highest number of noise abatement notices

Noise abatement notices are served on people who are deemed to be causing noise nuisances and fines can be issued by courts on prosecution for breaching the conditions of a notice. 

Data obtained through Freedom of Information request has revealed that Ipswich Borough Council imposed 140 abatement notices in the last six years, with 27 in 2018, 22 in 2019, 26 in 2020, 17 in 2021, 25 in 2022, 17 last year and six so far in 2024. 

Of these, 21 fines were given totalling £5,355. 

Ipswich Borough Council recorded 140 noise abatement notices since 2018 (Image: Newsquest)

In East Suffolk, 54 notices have been served since 2018, resulting in three fines and a total of £3,200 paid. 

Meanwhile in Mid Suffolk, a total of 19 notices were handed out.

One offender was prosecuted for five breaches of a notice in 2021 and was fined £440 for the first offence, with no separate penalties for offences two to five. 

A £20 victim surcharge was also imposed and costs of £200 were awarded to the council.

In west Suffolk, 13 noise abatement notices were handed out since 2018, but there were no fines for breaching the notices. 

Babergh District Council recorded eight noise abatement notices in the six years, but again there were no fines for breaching the orders.

While it is not an offence to receive a noise abatement notice, it is an offence to breach the requirements of a notice and councils can be awarded costs if a defendant is found guilty. 

Ipswich Borough Council said it responded to all complaints of noise nuisance from residents or businesses in the area and its Environmental Health team worked to monitor potential noise nuisances during their working times.

It said there were no particular trends regarding where and why notices were served.

Councillor John Cook (Image: Ipswich Borough Council)

Councillor John Cook, Ipswich Borough Council portfolio holder for communities and sport, said: "The council works hard to resolve complaints of noise nuisance, for instance through warnings and mediation, before the issue reaches the stage of our officers serving an abatement notice.

"Quite often, the source of a noise complaint is unaware that they’ve disturbed other people by their actions.

"If disturbances persist and continue to affect neighbours, then a Noise Abatement Notice can be issued. Failure to comply with that notice, and resolve the noise issue, may leave the council little choice but to take legal action.

"It is a minority of residents who cause a noise nuisance and make life miserable for their neighbours. Nevertheless, we will not tolerate any kind of anti-social behaviour in Ipswich, and we will pursue enforcement action when we can."