Noise and other nuisances
Problems we may be able to help with
We can investigate complaints about the following problems, which are defined in law as potentially causing a statutory nuisance. In severe cases we can take formal action to require the source to be limited or stopped:
- Noise from most premises (including noise from parked car alarms and stationary machines in the street)
- Artificial lighting
- Smoke (including smoke from bonfires)
- Dust, steam, or smells from business premises
- Accumulations or deposits
- Animals
- Insects from business premises
- Fumes or gases
- The state of a premises
Report a problem with noise
Please email envhealth@cheltenham.gov.uk with details of your complaint, including how long the problem has been going on and how it's affecting you.
Problems we cannot help with
We are not able to help with:
- Noise from people in the street, however you can report anti-social behaviour
- Road traffic noise
- Railway noise
- Smoke from vehicles on the highway. To report a particularly smoky vehicle note down the registration number and Report online to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency or call the Vehicle Inspectorate on 0300 123 9000
- Aircraft noise. To complain about civilian aircraft noise and low-flying aircraft Report it to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Gloucestershire Airport has neighbourhood protection policies in place which include strict noise abatement procedures. If you have a complaint about aircraft movements to and from Gloucestershire Airport, please visit their website which details their complaint procedure. Complaints about military aircraft should be made directly to the airfield where they operate from or Report it to the Ministry of Defence - GOV.UK.
What is a statutory nuisance?
When we assess a complaint of nuisance we have to assess the effect the nuisance would have on an average person, and whether it would stop their normal activity. That means we can’t give extra weight to a complainant who needs or expects something beyond average, for example a shift worker who works at night and sleeps by day, or someone with a medical condition requiring extra periods of quiet for sleep.
When we review the information provided by a complainant and/or gathered by our officers we have to consider a wide range of factors, including:
- Time the nuisance occurs
- Duration of the nuisance
- How often the nuisance happens
- Volume of noise (or brightness of light, strength of smell)
- Background noise and what is normal for that area
- Content of the noise
- Is the activity intended to affect others?
All these help answer the key question: “Does the nuisance stop the average person doing their normal activity”.