Noise Nuisance
A noise nuisance is any loud or persistent noise that causes you ongoing concern or affects your quality of life.
The City of Lincoln Council have a duty under Part 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to investigate and take action, where necessary, to deal with complaints of statutory nuisance. Section 79 of the above Act sets out what constitutes a statutory nuisance.
Your local council should be your first contact for reporting nuisance noise, as this isn’t usually a matter for the police. However, if the situation feels like it may get heated or violent as a result of the noise, Lincolnshire Police will intervene.
Common Types of Noise Nuisance
Building and vehicle alarms
If the same alarm keeps going off this may qualify as nuisance noise, especially if it goes on for a long time and keeps people up late at night.
Noise from pubs and clubs
Pubs, clubs and other venues can contribute to nuisance noise by playing music too loud or later than their licence permits. This can be made worse by people talking loudly as they leave the venue or keeping the party going by turning up their vehicles’ music systems.
Construction sites
Construction companies and contractors must by law take all reasonable steps to control noise and work within certain times. If they want to work outside these times, they must apply for a special permit from the local council.
Buskers
Busking refers to the performance of music, singing, dancing, or other forms of entertainment in public spaces, with the intention of receiving tips and donations from members of the public.
It can become intrusive and annoying for people who live, work, or visit Lincoln, especially in the city centre. Usually, this is because of loud, continuous, or repetitive noise.
View the code of conduct for buskers in Lincoln.
What is the effect?
Having to tolerate either constant or intermittent nuisance noise can be exhausting, especially if it happens through the night.
It can also make people feel isolated and helpless, unable to relax in their own homes. This can have extremely negative effects in the long term, so we take reports of ongoing nuisance noise very seriously.
What You Can Do
If a building or car alarm is going off and there’s clear evidence of criminal activity, such as a broken window or someone acting suspiciously nearby, call the Police on 999 immediately.
If there’s no evidence of criminal activity, we would always suggest trying to talk peacefully to the person responsible for the noise. They may already be trying to fix it. Unbelievable as it may seem, they may not even be aware of the problem.
If the person doesn’t want to stop the noise completely, try to reach an amicable compromise, such as no music after 11pm.
If you feel you can’t talk to the people involved, or they won’t listen, report the noise using the link below. We may be able to investigate and take steps to end the noise.