Nuisances

Noise is regulated to some extent at all UK airports. This can include noise limits and restrictions on night flights.

Aircraft paths are generally designed to fly over the least populated areas

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has more information on aircraft noise and emissions.

Complaining about aircraft noise

To complain about noise or aircraft activities in general, get in touch with the relevant airport.

Military aircraft

Military aircraft are covered by different rules. You can complain about military aircraft noise or low-flying military aircraft using this link.

If your neighbour’s bonfire is affecting the enjoyment of your home we may be able to help.

Nuisance from a bonfire can be the smell of smoke as well as the ash.

Smoke nuisance can be distressing, particularly for people with respiratory illnesses; however when we assess for smoke nuisance we assess against whether most people would find it intolerable; which makes it difficult to take illnesses into account.

What if I want to have a bonfire?

If you are at home, you are entitled to have a bonfire if you so wish. However, we would ask that you consider recycling your wood and garden waste.

If you decide to have a bonfire there are a few things we would recommend:

• ensure that the wind would not blow smoke towards your neighbours
• don't burn plastic, rubber or other household waste
• avoid lighting the fire with petrol or butane
• make sure the wood is dry
• do not leave the fire unattended.

When construction or demolition is taking place close to residential properties, we recommend that contractors adhere to the following hours of operation:

• Monday to Friday: 08:00 to 18:00
• Saturday: 08:00 to 13:00
• Sundays and Public Holidays: NO WORKING

If you are being disturbed before or after these hours we will visit the site to discuss a resolution with the developer.

The Council also has powers under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, Section 60 to control site noise and can serve a Notice imposing requirements as to the way in which works are to be carried out.

If you are experiencing the regular sounding of a car alarm report it to us and we will attempt to find the owner of the vehicle to advise them of the situation.

If the owner cannot be contacted, we will visit and if the alarm is causing a statutory noise nuisance we can arrange for the alarm to be silenced. The car owner will be charged for any costs incurred in stopping a nuisance.

Unfortunately we cannot take action against noise from car alarms in car parks (e.g. supermarkets) or where each alarm only sounds for a few seconds.

If you have a car alarm, please ensure it is regularly serviced along with the vehicle.

The noise from a commercial business such as a shop, factory, warehouse or port should be reasonable and not cause a nuisance to you in your home.

Commercial noise can include:

• machinery or plant;
• vehicles on site;
• deliveries;
• fans, ventilation or extract systems.

If you are running a business that is noisy, you can phone us 01592 583488 for general information or seek the advice of acoustic consultant.

If a house is particularly smelly or is a source of vermin we can investigate to determine whether the situation constitutes Statutory Nuisance because of foul odour, insect nuisance, or harbourage for vermin.

Sometimes a problem can exist because of the way the occupier lives. Such situations are caused by “Hoarders”, who don’t throw anything away, and sometimes live in squalor. These houses are also described as “filthy and verminous”.

If a neighbour is not disposing of their rubbish (or other waste) properly we can intervene and take the appropriate action.

Domestic noise can include:

• DIY
• Parties
• Amplified Music
• Playing of a Musical Instrument.

Some noise, however upsetting, cannot be classified as a Statutory Nuisance such as  children playing and reasonable levels of household noise.

There are no legal "permitted" noise levels or times when noise would be a nuisance, and it will usually be up to a council officer to decide whether noise levels are reasonable or are causing a nuisance.

Depending on where you live you may need to be more conscious of the noise you make, e.g. If you live in a flat, you will need to be quieter than if you lived in a detached house. You will also need to be aware that if you live in a flat you will hear some noise from your neighbours.

Remember though, no-one is entitled to silence, it’s all about what’s reasonable; whether you are making the noise of having to listen to it.

The Council still deals with a limited amount of drainage problems. However, if you are connected to mains (ie Scottish Water) drainage then it would be advisable to phone them in the first instance.

If you are served by private drainage then it is your responsibility to deal with problems that drainage may cause, even if the issues are not on your land.

If you share your drainage with someone else then it is in your own best interests to work together to solve any problems or prevent them.

If all else fails, you can contact us for advice and assistance.

Dust can be a nuisance when it gets in your eyes, mouth and nose. If you are bothered by dust, you can complain to Environmental Health and they will investigate.

If we find someone has been unreasonably creating dust which is causing a nuisance, then Environmental Health will serve a legal notice on the person responsible. That person (or company) will then be required to stop the nuisance.

How to avoid causing dust

Try not to create dust outside on a windy day, as this may blow it towards neighbouring properties. If the dust is coming from the ground, then using water to dampen the area is a good idea.

If dust is created as part of a process and then blown into the open air, some form of filtration may be an option; particularly if the dust is blowing into a neighbouring property.

If the problem of dust is particularly complex, the person or company responsible may need to ask a specialist consultant to help.

Sometimes insects coming from other premises can be worrying, particularly in large numbers. If you are bothered by large numbers of insects you can contact us (see contact details below) and we will investigate.

Examples of insect nuisances we can investigate are:

• flies from chicken sheds
• flies from sewage works
• flies from landfill sites
• maggot farms
• slaughterhouses
• used tyre recycling.

If you would like to report someone's garden as being overgrown or messy, you'll need to know whether they are a council property or not.

If they are a private homeowner, there may not be a lot we can do.

Please fill out our Report anti-social behaviour form to give us more information.

Giant Hogweed produces a toxic sap which has the potential to cause severe blisters and pigmentation to the skin. The effects can last for many years and it is an offence for a landowner to cause or allow the spread of this plant.

The way that the council responds to concerns about Giant Hogweed depends on who is responsible for the land that the plant is growing on. Please refer to the guidance and links below:

Fife Council Parks Streets and Open Spaces are responsible for much of the land owned by the council that the public has access to – for more information visit Greenspace or email us at GM.enquiries@fife.gov.uk

BEAR Scotland are responsible for the sides of trunk roads and the motorway – you can get more information on the BEAR Scotland website: www.bearscot.com

Fife Council Network Management are responsible for the sides of council adopted roads – please e-mail: transportation.services@fife.gov.uk

Where the suspected plant is on private land, please contact Environmental Health Public Protection Team via the 'Report a nuisance' e-form provided at the top of this page.

A code of practice approved by the Government gives guidance on methods of minimising annoyance caused by chimes. The main points of the code of practice are:

Chimes should not sound :-

• for longer than 4 seconds at a time
• more often than once every 3 minutes
• when the vehicle is stationary
• except on approach to a selling point
• when in sight of another vehicle which is trading
• when within 50 metres of schools (during school hours), hospitals, and places of worship (on Sundays and other recognised day of worship)
• more often than once every 2 hours in the same length of street
• louder than 80 dB(A) at 7.5 metres
• loudly in quiet areas or narrow streets.
• Chimes should only sound between the hours of 12.00 noon and 7.00 pm

If you are disturbed by this type of noise please contact us and we will investigate.

Noise from domestic intruder alarms are often due to a fault but if you think the property is being burgled then please contact Police Scotland on 101.

If your property is fitted with an alarm, please ensure that:-

• the alarm is fitted with a 20-minute cut-out device
• you have the alarm serviced periodically
• you provide the Council and police with details of keyholders
• You tell your neighbours how to get hold of the keyholders.

There is currently no 24 hour or weekend call out for this type of noise within Fife Council.

Please contact us the following working day for any intruder alarms complaint and we will investigate.

It is not against the law to keep chickens in a garden, even in an urban or built-up area. However, sometimes the smell or noise can cause problems. If you are experiencing problems from a neighbour keeping chickens, you can contact us and we will investigate.

If you keep chickens (or are thinking of doing so) here are some tips:

• please clean out the coop regularly to avoid causing unpleasant smells or insects
• please think carefully before having a cockerel, particularly if you are in an urban area as the early morning noise can cause a nuisance to neighbours.

Bright lights shining into your living room or bedroom can be distressing. If you are suffering from artificial lights shining into your living or bedrooms you can contact the Environmental Health Public Protection Team via the e-form provided at the top of this page and we will investigate.

Please note:

• We will only investigate artificial light shining into your bedrooms or living rooms; not kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, landings or hallways.
• we would expect people to try closing their curtains first, and if the light is still a problem, then contact us

We don’t expect people to have to fit black-out curtains or blinds.

If you have a security light, please make sure it is angled down so that it only shines on your land.

The sport of flying model aircraft provides enjoyment for many. It can also create noise which may annoy or disturb others.

There is a Code of Practice on Noise from Model Aircraft that asks for the following factors to be considered.

• separation distance
• times of operation
• numbers of model aircraft in operation simultaneously
• barriers between flying site and noise-sensitive premises.

The use of loudspeakers in the street for advertising any entertainment, trade or business is prohibited (except if the loudspeaker is on a vehicle selling perishable food between noon and 7pm and is operated in a way that does not give reasonable cause for annoyance).

Essential services such as the police, ambulance services and fire brigade are exempt from loudspeaker restrictions.

Noise in the street can also include machinery or equipment such as generators or pumps and wheelie bin jetting.

Slurry or muck-spreading is the catch-all term we use for any organic material being put onto farm land. This can be animal manure (including human waste from sewage works) or waste plant material from other industries (such as the solid waste from the distillery process).

If you are experiencing offensive smells from farm spreading, you can contact us and we will investigate to determine whether it constitutes Statutory Nuisance, in which case we will take action.

The smells from slurry spreading can be extremely unpleasant, however as long as the farmer is doing everything they can to minimise the smells, we may not be able to take any formal action, particularly if the farmer takes action to mitigate against the foul odour.

There is a Code of Good Practice Document called the Prevention of Environmental Pollution From Agricultural Activity.

Strong or revolting smells can be upsetting. If you are bothered by smells affecting you home you can contact us (see bottom of page) and we will investigate.

If the smell is caused by the normal use of a domestic premises, such as cooking dinner, this will not be investigated.

Some smells are caused by large industrial premises that may be regulated by SEPA. If that is the case we will let you know, and after gaining your permission, pass your details to them.

If smoke from a chimney is affecting the enjoyment of your home we may be able to help. Smoke nuisance also includes the smell of smoke.

Smoke nuisance can be distressing, particularly for people with respiratory illnesses; however when we assess for smoke nuisance we assess against whether most people would find it intolerable; which makes it difficult to take illnesses into account.

Some smoke from factory chimneys will be regulated by SEPA, if this is the case we will pass the complaint on to them (with your permission).

If smoke from a chimney is affecting the enjoyment of your home we may be able to help.

We are required to investigate complaints about excessive smoke from domestic fires and stoves. This includes strong smell and dark smoke which is considered unreasonable.

In the first instance, we recommend you speak to your neighbour and advise them of your concerns over the smell and colour of the smoke coming from the chimney. This will give them an opportunity to investigate and take measures to prevent smoke. If there is no improvement, you may wish to submit a complaint to us for investigation.

To submit a complaint please email Duty.OfficerPPT@fife.gov.uk and include the following details:

• Address of the property emitting excessive smoke and strong burning smell
• Photographs of the smoke (where appropriate)
• A detailed log of the date and time when it happened, the address of property affected and how it is impacting your enjoyment of your property.
• Your contact details.