Sound solutions
- Carry out noisy activities in the middle of the day.
- If you have a prolonged, really noisy job to do such as hedge cutting, agree the best time to do it with your neighbours.
- Maintain equipment and keep blades sharp.
- Where possible, use CE markings to help you purchase quieter equipment.
- Water features and wind chimes may charm you, but are permanent sources of sound and can drive your neighbours nuts. Site them away from neighbouring properties and switch them off/silence them at night or if you go away.
- Children play outside - however, some toys (powered vehicles, rattling scooters and skateboards, balls on walls) and games can be very noisy. Be aware that continual row can be maddening - and if a particular toy or game is extremely noisy, offer less annoying alternatives.
- Entertaining outside is fun - however if you have a barbeque or party, tell your neighbours, invite them if appropriate, avoid amplified music out of doors and if anyone does complain, keep it down!
- If you fancy a garden firework display to mark your celebration proceed with care. It is now illegal to let off fireworks after 11 pm (except for Bonfire Night (Nov 5th), Diwali, New Years Eve and Chinese New Year) - see NSCA Firework leaflet for detail.
- Ensure your site is suitable - remember noise can bounce off buildings, and choose quieter fireworks.
Garden
Our gardens are a place to rest, relax and play. Like our homes, they need maintaining, and are used for entertaining. Remember that any noise you make in your garden will be heard by your neighbours, including:
- Lawn mowers/Strimmers
- Chainsaws/Hedge cutters
- Shredders
- Leaf blowers
- Water Features
- Windchimes
- Noisy toys/Noisy games
- Entertaining (barbeques, parties)
- Fireworks
