INCONSIDERATE residents are making life tough for others in Thurrock with almost 4,000 complaints made in the last three years, it has been revealed.

Thurrock Council received 3,742 complaints about noisy neighbours between 2018/19 and 2020/21 according to a freedom of information request.

The issue made life during lockdown even tougher for residents and led the council to issue a warning for people to be more considerate of their neighbours.

Nevertheless, the council only issued 30 noise abatement orders over the three years – and less than five fines for breaking the orders.

Noise nuisance includes loud music, barking dogs, house and car alarms as well as noise from pubs and clubs.

A council spokesman said: "The vast majority of noise complaints are dealt with quickly and amicably by officers visiting the premises and letting residents or businesses know that there has been a complaint and advising them what they can do to rectify the issue. In some circumstances the council will send out advisory warning letters; and if that does not resolve the issue, may carry out an investigation based on any evidence provided.

"If these approaches do not achieve the desired result and the noise nuisance is subsequently witnessed by a noise officer, and deemed a statutory nuisance, then the council will look at issuing a noise abatement order, and may invite those responsible to attend an interview under caution upon a breach of such a notice. This could ultimately lead to the prosecution of the offender."

The spokesman added: "To issue a noise abatement order the noise being complained about has to be a statutory nuisance and be recorded as such by one of the council's specialist noise officers.

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"It is important to bear in mind that not all complaints are about separate issues or about noise nuisance that meets the criteria of being a statutory nuisance so a direct comparison of complaints received to noise abatement orders issued is not illustrative."

More information about how noise nuisance is dealt with can be found via this link