Walsall complaints on noise top 3,000

More than 3,000 noise complaints were made in Walsall in a single year - with nuisance animals among the top offenders, new figures have revealed today.

Almost 80 written warning notices were issued to noisy neighbours and businesses as Walsall Council chiefs have pledged to crackdown on the problem.

There were 1,846 complaints made about domestic noise, 982 relating to animals, 153 because of commercial noise and there were 67 about alarms in the 12 months up to April , figures show.

As a result some of the alarms were disconnected. There were 11 complaints about sport and leisure premises, 20 about loud speakers and four on construction noise.

In total there were 3,083 complaints across the borough from April 2011-12.

There were 77 abatement notices issued by environmental health officers for ongoing problems while there were two prosecutions for a breach of the warning.

Councillor Tom Ansell, Walsall Council's cabinet member for transport and environment, said the council will step in when concerns are raised by families. This includes culprits being brought before the courts.

"We will continue to clamp down on reports of noise pollution and take action as and when required," he added.

It emerged earlier this year that the number of complaints from residents in Walsall is on the rise, with officers having to deal with almost 50 calls of nuisance in the space of 48 hours in February.

Loud music, barking pets and DIY work were just some of the complaints made by residents around the borough over the weekend. On average there are around 40 complaints mainly relating to loud music and parties.

During the 12-month period the council seized noise producing equipment on one occasion.

Last year a Walsall couple who allowed their Jack Russell dog to bark continuously were ordered to pay over £500 each by magistrates.

Environmental health officers received over 100 complaints about a dog barking at the address in Leamore since April 2010.

By Alex Homer