Residents’ complaints reveal Sandwell’s noisiest streets

'Domestic noises' are one of the top complaints for residents seeking peace and quiet, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

A Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service^[1] (LDRS) found Sandwell^[2] council received 3,063 noise complaints in 2022.

Less than half of noise complaints submitted by residents in Sandwell are publicly available in a 'reported format'. Sandwell council told the LDRS the streets listed reflect only ‘reports’ of noise and "does not assume that all are substantiated".

Out of those complaints, domestic noise accounted for the majority of complaints - at 1,385.

The streets reported to Sandwell council for noise complaints include:

1. Reservoir Road, Rowley Regis

2. Hartlebury Road, Oldbury

3. Green Street, West Bromwich

4. Southbank Road, Rowley

5. Willow Close, Rowley

6. Glover Street, West Bromwich

7. Horseshoe Walk, Tipton

8. Wallace Close, Oldbury

9. Maria Street, West Bromwich

10. Summer Street, West Bromwich

Reservoir Road, in Rowley Regis^[3], will host 27 new council homes - a mixture of two and four-bedroom houses. Willow Close and Southbank Road, both in Rowley and a short distance between each other, also topped the list.

Out of the 3,063 records given, only 1,404 records showed a reason for the report.

Sandwell council said: "Data for noise complaints is recorded on differing systems, not all of which retain functionality to further define the ‘reason’ for a noise complaint.

"In the case of [the remaining] 1659 records, the information you have requested is not available in a structured format and is held in a system that does not allow for producing reports to provide the requested information".

Sandwell council told the LDRS the streets listed reflect only ‘reports’ of noise and "does not assume that all are substantiated".

"Therefore, it would not be a true reflection to state that these are the ‘nosiest streets’ in Sandwell, merely those where the most noise reports have been received," it added.

The local authority added the streets listed may include duplicate data, where a report has been made to more than one agency and may include multiple reports from the same household.

Sandwell council said it could not comment on individual cases due to data protection.

The council website states that it can "investigate a wide range of noise complaints" including "loud music, burglar alarms that go off regularly, or noisy dogs".

An information leaflet for issues with a noisy neighbour is also displayed. "Where you have a noise problem, the best approach is for you to speak to your neighbour first to try and resolve the matter. The leaflet gives advice on how to do this," the council adds.

Councillor Danny Millard, cabinet member for communities, said: “We take complaints of noise nuisance very seriously and take action wherever we can. Most noise problems can be resolved informally, either with low level intervention from the council or between the parties themselves.

“We have a range of powers and investigative tools available and can take legal action against perpetrators where needed. Council tenants responsible for anti-social behaviour also face action against their tenancy, which can result in eviction in the most serious cases.”

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References

1. ^{^} Local Democracy Reporting Service (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Sandwell (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Rowley Regis (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^{^} here (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^{^} app (www.birminghammail.co.uk)