Council warns pubs on beer garden noise

Pubs which have beer gardens in part of Staffordshire are being warned about problems caused by garden noise nuisance by their local council.

Cannock Chase Council's environmental health department has written to all licensed premises in the district with beer gardens to remind them of the national Noise Action Week which runs from May 18 to May 22. The council is supporting the campaign by raising awareness of noise from beer gardens as a 'barbecue' summer is widely forecast.

With good weather on the cards there is potential for noise from customers to become a nuisance to nearby residents.

Karen Sulway, Cannock Chase Council's environmental protection manager, said: "Managing the potential for noise nuisance is part of a licensee's requirement to prevent public nuisance.

"They need to address noise issues through appropriate planning, good management and proactive procedures as part of the day-to-day running of their businesses."

The council has said pub managers must establish a monitoring system and come up with procedures and methods for recording and responding to any noise complaints.

They must train staff and erect signage as well as provide sound trap lobbies or automatic doors to stop noise escaping.

Pubs must also use registered door staff and set restrictions for drinking alcohol outside.

Councillor Tony Williams, cabinet member for environment said: "We're not out to ruin people's enjoyment of what could hopefully be a really good summer. But if you're a resident living near a pub where noise from the beer garden is keeping you awake until the early hours of the morning, then that's not fair and is a real nuisance."

The council will be closely monitoring complaints from the public as part of Noise Action Week which is an annual initiative co-ordinated by Environmental Protection UK that aims to raise awareness of the problems caused by neighbour noise and the solutions available to tackle it.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Cannock Chase Council must investigate all noise complaints received from residents.