Cotswold DC produces advisory pack on informal resolution of neighbourhood nuisance disputes

Cotswold District Council has launched a ‘nuisance pack’ advising residents on how to deal with problems in their areas.

The council said it receives about 300 complaints every year about neighbourhood nuisance. Problems include loud music, barking dogs, DIY “and even crowing cockerels”.

In a statement, Cotswold DC said: “If the council finds that a nuisance is being caused, it has powers to take formal action, but the purpose of the nuisance pack is to offer less formal alternatives to overcoming these types of neighbourly dispute.

“The pack advises that if residents have a problem, for example, with a noisy neighbour, it is often sufficient to alert the neighbour politely that they are causing a disturbance. In most situations, amicable solutions can be achieved once people enter into this kind of reasonable dialogue. The ‘pack’ offers handy hints on how to approach neighbours and what to include in any correspondence.”

The pack also includes a log sheet for recording times and dates when a problem occurs, as well as information on how to bring private action if necessary.

The launch of the pack is part of Noise Action Week, which is coordinated nationally by Environmental Protection UK and aims to raise awareness of the problems caused by neighbourhood nuisance.