After reading about complaints from many residents about loud music from local functions and clubs, I thought I should offer some advice.
To remove all the emotion out of the debate, here is what the local by-laws state: “Prohibition of noise nuisance – No person shall (a) operate or play, or allow to be operated or played, a radio, television set, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier, loudspeaker system or similar device producing, reproducing or amplifying sound so as to cause a noise nuisance.” There is more detail on this in the official documents, but basically that is the law.
The real problems are the unnecessarily high-power amplifiers with the low frequency sub-woofer bass speakers that are available at low cost these days.
The low down thumping bass carries over great distances and penetrates even solid walls. Operating these sound systems in homes and cars is against the law in any residential area. People get away with it because the vast majority of the police don’t understand the by-laws.
You need a special licence to make a noise on special occasions. If it is a pub, sports bar or any other venue, they need an entertainment license plus soundproofing so that the noise does not carry to the nearest resident.
Legal clubs with bone-shaking sound systems are always built away from residential areas, and have serious soundproofing as well.
Residents should know that they do not have to live with this nonsense. Phone 10111 and report a disturbance of the peace. Take down the time and the person’s name and get a reference number. Take this to your ward councillor to make a united case against the perpetrators.
There are still some good police officers around, so stand together and make sure that everyone simply obeys the law.
