LOCAL residents are being encouraged to be mindful of their neighbours this summer by avoiding noise pollution – and to be aware of how to report noise complaints.

Herefordshire Council receives up to 1,000 noise complaints a year, with a 50 per cent increase over the summer months.

Most summer noise complaints are about loud music, parties, barking dogs and loud factory equipment, so the authority is urging residents and businesses to be mindful of others, and to be aware of how they can report excessive noise in their neighbourhoods.

Every weekend throughout July and August, ‘noise officers’ from the council’s environmental protection team will be out and about across the county on Friday and Saturday nights.

The out of hours initiative is jointly funded by the Herefordshire Community Safety Partnership and the goal is to make the area’s town centres feel safer with an increased officer presence and actions to protect from anti-social behaviour, nuisance and crime behaviours.

Officers will be on duty into the early hours of the morning monitoring noise hot spots and investigating noise complaints.

The council’s aim is to assist everyone across the county to enjoy the summer in a respectful, safe and neighbourly manner.

Where there are anti-social behaviour and nuisance problems between neighbours, the council would also like to encourage people to communicate their concerns with each other in a respectful manner.

Where this is not the case, the council’s enforcement officers will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action where necessary.

Cllr Barry Durkin, cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “Everybody has the right to enjoy their summers, and while some noise is inevitable in work and home activities, we would politely request that people consider the noise they are generating and think about how excessive and prolonged noise could affect their neighbours’ quality of life.”