Sports bar’s noise frustrates Alberton resident
Usually, the ward councillor would support such steps, but the Ward 37 councillor has proved to be super ineffective,” wrote the unhappy resident.
I live in Verwoerdpark, right next to the SPAR shopping centre. There is a sports bar in the shopping complex that is and has been noisy (loud music, loud, inebriated patrons, patrons revving their cars and motorcycles when leaving the venue, often after midnight) for a long time with no regard for the residents in the area.
This noise is throughout the week and, in general, affects my ability to rest properly in the evenings. I have logged many complaints with the metro police of the CoE (since mid-2021) with no success. Politely asking the owner to be more respectful of the residents in the area proved unsuccessful.
There is a possible legal action in progress from my side. I hope there is a possibility of giving this some attention in your publication to try and find others in the vicinity of the shopping complex affected by the same.
The intention is to put together a petition and get rid of this type of business in the middle of a residential area or, at a minimum, find suitable relief from the noise. I am open to other advice if at all possible.
Anonymous
What the law says:
Disturbing noise like dogs barking, loud music and shouting, to mention a few, is a public health nuisance for which an offender can be penalised.
Dogs barking is a disturbing noise and a public health nuisance under Chapter 2 of the Public Health By-laws. It carries a fine of R1 000 issued under Section 5(1) and/or (2).
You can report such contraventions to Ekurhuleni’s nearest Environmental Health offices for investigation and action. Loud music and drinking alcohol in public parks are only allowed at organised events where the city granted permission.
The EMPD will enforce the by-laws if the CoE does not grant permission. Even in residential areas, loud music disturbing the peace is forbidden.
Report noisy neighbours to the CoE’s Call Centre on 086 054 3000 or at these offices during office hours:
• Northern region on 011 999 5041;
• Eastern region on 011 999 8489;
• Southern region on 011 999 5988;
• By-laws compliance centre on 011 999 325.
Response from the sports bar:
We are aware of these allegations and take them very seriously. As a responsible business, we are committed to ensuring we co-exist harmoniously with our neighbours and the wider community.
We have taken steps to address the concerns raised. We have implemented several measures to ensure residents are not adversely affected.
These include monitoring sound levels. We regularly monitor the sound levels inside and outside the bar to ensure we stay within the legal noise limits, especially after 22:00.
We restrict live entertainment to Thursday, Friday and Saturday, ensuring no noise from the pub during the week. We’ve met with the authorities to assist us with noise level testing so we can link this to a volume limit on the DJ’s amplifiers.
The revving of cars happens outside the pub. While we do not have control over this area, we have taken the necessary steps to inform our clientele to be courteous of the residents and avoid unnecessary revving when leaving the pub. We have issued a verbal warning to one customer, identified as one of the main culprits.
Our goal is to continue fostering a good relationship with the community by maintaining open dialogue and being proactive in addressing any issues. We’ve made significant investments in creating an entertainment offering that reflects the needs and desires of the Verwoerdpark community and Alberton as a whole.
We remain committed to balancing this vibrant offering with our responsibility to the residents in the area, and we will continue to invest in both business and our relationship with the community.
We thank our patrons and the community for their continued support.
