Noise Complaints - Auditory Bird Scaring Devices [UNC]
Case reference FOI2019/01017
Published 25 September 2019
Request
We are compiling national data on noise nuisance complaints relating to auditory bird scaring devices (propane gas guns, banger ropes etc). If available, we'd like the source data as extracts from the Environmental Health Department's database, redacted to protect confidential information. We are particularly interested in the postcodes of the alleged noise nuisance of audible bird scaring devices.
Cover period: 1. January 2015 - 30 June 2019, broken down by year Auditory Bird Scaring Devices = ABDS National Farmer's Union = NFU GENERAL
1) Does the EHD log all noise nuisance complaints (phone,email,letter)?
2) How many noise nuisance complaints (all causes) were received in cover period?
3) How many of these related to ABSD?
4) How many of those related to ABSD, resulted in an abatement notice being issued? NFU CODE
5) NFU Code of Practice specifies that farmers should register ABSD with the local council. How many guns were registered with the council during the cover period?
6) NFU Code of Practice is a voluntary code, but Councils are allowed to issue bye-laws. Does the Council have a bye-law regarding the use of ABSD?
7) Does the EHD have an internal policy for the process of investigating noise nuisance by ABSD? If yes, please supply a copy. INVESTIGATION
8) How many times was the EHD unable to investigate / act on a complaint because the owner/operator of a gun could not be identified?
9) When deciding whether an ABSD constitutes statutory noise nuisance, does the council rely on noise monitoring data, or does it accept the subjective evidence by a EHO?
10) If noise monitoring equipment is used, how many machines does the environmental Health Department have that are suitable for measuring noise emission from ABSD?
11) If noise monitoring equipment is used, which BS standard is applied? TRAINING
12) How many Environmental Officers does the Environmental Health Department employ?
13) How many days Continuous Professional Development has the team received in relation to statutory noise nuisance?
14) If the data exist, is it possible to break down outcomes of complaints (about ABSD ONLY) into how many ended in a) informal discussion with offender only b) visit to the property & subjective assessment by EHO c) installation of noise monitoring d) noise monitoring found that no statutory noise nuisance exists e) noise monitoring found that statutory noise monitoring does exists f) resulted in abatement notice g) abatement notices contested If you are able to say: - how many gasguns do you estimate are in use within the District? - how long does it take on average to deal with a complaint from ABSD?
Response
Guildford Borough Council does not record the noise from bird scaring devices as a separate entity so the answers are based on the recollections of staff who have all been in service over the period 1 January 2015 - 30 June 2019
1) Does the EHD log all noise nuisance complaints (phone,email,letter)? Yes
2) How many noise nuisance complaints (all causes) were received in cover period? 2527
3) How many of these related to ABSD? 5
4) How many of those related to ABSD, resulted in an abatement notice being issued? 0
5) NFU Code of Practice specifies that farmers should register ABSD with the local council. How many guns were registered with the council during the cover period? 0
6) NFU Code of Practice is a voluntary code, but Councils are allowed to issue bye-laws. Does the Council have a bye-law regarding the use of ABSD? No
7) Does the EHD have an internal policy for the process of investigating noise nuisance by ABSD? No
8) How many times was the EHD unable to investigate / act on a complaint because the owner/operator of a gun could not be identified? 0
9) When deciding whether an ABSD constitutes statutory noise nuisance, does the council rely on noise monitoring data, or does it accept the subjective evidence by a EHO? Both
10) If noise monitoring equipment is used, how many machines does the environmental Health Department have that are suitable for measuring noise emission from ABSD? 3
11) If noise monitoring equipment is used, which BS standard is applied?
We have not got this far with any investigation.
TRAINING 12) How many Environmental Officers does the Environmental Health Department employ? 17 covering all parts of EH and Housing
13) How many days Continuous Professional Development has the team received in relation to statutory noise nuisance? 3 per annum
14) If the data exist, is it possible to break down outcomes of complaints (about ABSD ONLY) into how many ended in a) informal discussion with offender only b) visit to the property & subjective assessment by EHO c) installation of noise monitoring d) noise monitoring found that no statutory noise nuisance exists e) noise monitoring found that statutory noise monitoring does exists f) resulted in abatement notice g) abatement notices contested If you are able to say: - how many gas guns do you estimate are in use within the District? - how long does it take on average to deal with a complaint from ABSD.
This data does not exist.
Documents
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