REPORTS Reports of noise nuisance rose significantly in Neath Port Talbot (NPT) during the pandemic.

NPT Council received a 60 per cent increase in noise complaints in 2020/21 compared with figures for 2019/20.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service found 800 complaints were made to the authority between April 01 2019 and March 31 2020. During the same period in 2020/21 the council had 1,282 reports.

Councils have the power to issue warnings and in some cases fixed penalty notices for noise nuisances. Failure to pay a fine on time can result in a fine of up to £1,000 for dwellings and an unlimited amount for licensed premises.

No action was taken in relation to noise nuisance by NPT Council in 2019/20 or 2020/21, according to the council’s Freedom of Information response.

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Llansawel Crescent in Neath saw the most noise nuisance complaints in 2020/32 compared with other streets/roads in the county borough.

A council spokesperson said they cannot yet reveal exactly how many complaints were received regarding Llansawel Crescent.

They added: “Regarding noise complaints, there was a general rise across the UK during the pandemic.

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“Figures obtained by sustainable insulation company Rockwool… suggest the pandemic has led to a 29 per cent increase in noise complaints to local authorities across the country.”

According to the council’s website, the most common types of noise complaint that it deals with are: domestic noise (e.g. neighbour disputes, dogs barking); commercial/industrial noise (e.g. from factories and burglar alarms); and vehicles (car alarms and stereos).

The authority cannot deal with certain noise like traffic, children/young people, or military aircrafts.

You can report noise nuisance to the council via its website. You must give your name, address, and the name (if you know it) and address of the person causing the noise.

In Swansea, there were 4,247 noise nuisance complaints in 2020-21 compared to 3,555 the year before. Officers sent out 142 warning letters, issued 48 abatement notices and prosecuted one offender.