IF YOU DON'T TURN THAT NOISE DOWN, THEY'LL COME KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR

IMAGINE the scene - it is 2am on a Sunday and the neighbours are at it again. Their party began earlier in the evening, their guests' voices just audible behind the thin walls.

But as the night progresses, and the beer flows, the noise becomes worse and worse - windows are flung open, the volume is turned up and the revellers are now telling the whole street what a wonderful party they have been invited to.

Until recently, people tormented by the scourge of noisy neighbours had very few places to turn, short of banging on the wall or risking months of acrimony by going around and asking them to keep quiet.

Not any longer, as Brighton and Hove residents now have their own noise patrol team.

Since setting up two years ago, the service has proved an antidote to the headache of anti-social neighbours.

Senior environmental health officer Paul Hooper was on patrol with technical and environmental health officer Saphia Khokhar on Saturday night through to 3am on Sunday morning.

They are one of two teams on weekend patrol throughout August when the weather makes the towns ripe for outdoor parties.

The first call of the evening is at around 11pm from a house in Moulsecoomb. There, a family have been driven to distraction by a party in nearby Newick Road which began at 8pm and which they fear will run until the small hours.

Before they can go in to the party and ask them to pipe down, Paul and Saphia have to witness the noise from the house themselves. Satisfied it is loud enough for them to act, they prepare to head off to the offending home.

The complainant, who has bags under his eyes, explains: "It's every weekend, last time it went on until 4.05 in the morning and I had to get up early the next day."

Driving over Paul explains: "This is the bit where you get a bit tense, because you really don't know what you are going to find. We always park our cars far away from the houses in case things turn nasty."

There is no doubt which house in Newick Road is causing the problem - the music is deafening, and balloons and streamers around the front door are wishing somebody a happy 21st birthday.

After knocking several times, the door is opened, and Paul and Saphia identify themselves before explaining there have been complaints.

The tone is amiable enough, but as Paul continues talking, more people, incensed at the interruption, gather at the door. One woman jokes: "We'll put smaller speakers up, but I had my 40th birthday and it went on until 10am without any complaints."

Leaving the scene, a dip in the volume is detected, but Paul is convinced more complaints will follow. He has decided that if they have to return they want to go back with police support.

He said: "If there are more complaints, the next step is to serve a noise abatement order on them. Then, if they defy that, we can get a court order tonight and the police can go in and seize their equipment to make sure the noise stops."

Driving back to their base at Hove Town Hall in Norton Road, Hove, he explains the stresses and strains of the job.

"Sometimes you really have to run on adrenalin, then when you get home you just can't get to sleep as things keep running through your mind.

"You have to be aware that drunk people can be aggressive and we are trained how to deal with them - not to stare people out, to be friendly but open and to put our message across while showing them you are giving them a choice."

Calls are fed to Paul and Saphia through Sylvia Collings, the noise hotline's switchboard operator at the town hall. As the team return to the office, at around midnight, she says: "As soon as you left Newick Road there were more complaints, apparently there was a big cheer and the music got louder."

Paul calls the police and asks when back-up will be available.

While waiting for the police to call back, there is another call to a party, this time in First Avenue, Hove.

The sheer misery that inconsiderate neighbours can cause is etched on to the face of the complainant.

She explains: "We already have problems with the people upstairs making a noise and we've a dispute with the landlord as there's not proper floor covering up there."

The noise from the party, in a nearby flat, booms through the walls. The woman explains: "There's an elderly woman below us who is moving out because she just can't stand it any more."

Paul and Saphia have no problem getting into the building where the party is being held. There, a bleary-eyed student promises to turn the music down before abruptly closing the door.

Half-an-hour later they have to return after a further call complaining the music is as loud as ever.

This time their attitude is more forthright. Saphia explains: "We have already been here about the noise, next time we will have to serve an order on you, is that clear?"

The flat's tenant reluctantly agrees and in the street below, Paul and Saphia are satisfied windows have been closed and the volume turned down.

Saphia explains how the last case was slightly unusual - most party hosts are completely unaware they are making so much noise and are shocked when they stand outside and hear the noise echoing down the street.

Indeed, several other calls the team attend that evening result in the immediate ending of the parties and at last, peace for nearby residents.

But unfortunately people are not always so amiable. The Argus has featured many stories about disputes between noisy neighbours which have ended up in court.

In June we reported how a row over noise in Upper Beeding, north of Shoreham, exploded into confrontation.

Parish councillor Keith Lucas, of Church Close, became so incensed at loud music coming from his neighbours' home that in January he stormed in and smashed a telephone from the wall.

Mr Lucas admitted causing £69.99 damage, was ordered to pay compensation and agreed to be bound over. He told Horsham magistrates his neighbours, Dorothy and Andrew Needham, had deliberately annoyed his family by playing their TV and radio loudly.

In July last year, the council prosecuted five students after their loud music made the lives of residents in Wolseley Road, Brighton, a living hell. The students were fined a total of £2,250 and ordered to pay court costs of £1,000.

July also saw June Paine, of Rustington Road, Brighton, fined £250 for breaching a noise abatement order. Brighton magistrates heard how Paine would sing Elvis Presley and Doris Day songs in the early hours of the morning preventing her neighbours from sleeping.

Returning to the office at 2.30am, Paul and Saphia are relieved to hear the residents of the house in Newick Road have turned the music down.

During the five-hour shift, the council has received nearly 20 complaints.

The council's noise patrol team can be reached on 01273 292400/292424.

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