Legal News
Council prosecutes over noise intrusion from resident’s dog (26 October 2015)
Date: 26/10/2015
Sheffield City Council has prosecuted the owner of a noisy dog, after neighbours complained frequently of noise intrusion caused by barking.
Council officers had been investigating the noise issues for some months – including writing to the dog’s owner, Clare Walker, 48, advising her of the problem and asking her to address it.
When the noise complaints continued, the council served an abatement notice on Ms Walker. Despite receiving the notice, Ms Walker failed to resolve the problem and complaints about her dog barking continued.
Officers provided the complainant with recording equipment and in one week identified 12 instances of noise, which were so severe that it was considered the notice had been breached.
At Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, Claire Walker – of Birch Tree Road in Stocksbridge – was found guilty in her absence. She was fined £50, with costs of £50 and a victim surcharge of £20.
After the hearing, Sheffield City Council’s Head of Environmental Regulation, Ian Ashmore, said:
“Our officers go to extraordinary lengths to resolve noise complaints. They will provide help and advice to all parties in a bid to avoid court action.
“But if they cannot get any voluntary improvements, they will have to issue an abatement notice.
“If the complaints continue, then we will take the matter to court – as this case proves.”
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