Ghetto blasters seized in raids on noisy neighbours

Ghetto blasters seized in raids on noisy neighbours

Council noise pollution experts seized electrical equipment worth hundreds of pounds in a clampdown on noisy neighbours in July.

The people concerned, who live in Berkley Walk, Littleborough and Royds Street, Rochdale, had already had noise abatement notices served on them by the council in February this year.

Environmental Protection Officers then monitored the properties to make sure that residents were keeping the noise to a reasonable level. Only after there were further breaches of the notice and written warnings were ignored, did the council officers get magistrates' permission to forcibly enter the properties and use their powers to take the unusual step of seizing the equipment which caused the noise.

Police, locksmiths and a dog warden helped Council Environmental Protection Officers seize the equipment. They took a range of items including ghetto blasters, a woofer CD system, sub-woofer speakers, surround sound speakers, and a CD/DVD player.

Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, Councillor Wera Hobhouse said: "We only used these powers as a last resort, following a number of warnings to the residents concerned.

"In these cases not only have we seized goods, we will also prosecute residents in the Magistrates Court.

"We will not stand by while people are a nuisance to, or harass, their neighbours. But we do need people to help us collect hard evidence that will, if necessary, stand up in court."