4:51pm Thursday 6th November 2008
By Andy Carswell
A CHESHAM man who annoyed his neighbours by playing music too loudly has been fined £1,000 by magistrates.
Ben Simmons ignored several warnings from Chiltern District Council about the noise coming from his Chartridge Lane home - and ended up having his music equipment seized.
Magistrates proved in Simmons’ absence that he had breached a council noise abatement notice when he failed to turn up at Aylesbury Magistrates Court on Thursday October 30.
He was then fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £862 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
The court also directed Chiltern District Council to dispose of the noise making equipment and use the proceeds to pay the costs of seizing and storing it.
The council said this week it had received complaints about the noise throughout the summer - but the loud music continued despite several requests for it to stop from the council.
Last year, the council received over 300 complaints about noise and almost 30 of these involved neighbours playing music too loudly.
Councillor Noel Brown, Cabinet Member for community safety, said: “We don’t want to stop people listening to music but we are asking everyone to show consideration towards their neighbours.”
Anyone in the district who is disturbed by loud music can contact the council’s environmental section on 01494 732058.
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