Nuisance neighbour fined for ignoring noise warnings

By Monday 10 November 2014 Updated: 10/11 15:23

A NOISY neighbour who ignored council warnings about playing loud music has been fined £500.

Zoltan Kovacs, of Avenue Road, was found guilty in his absence at Nuneaton Magistrates Court of two breaches of a noise abatement notice.

The notice was served on Mr Kovacs in October 2013 after the council's community safety wardens responded to a complaint about loud music, singing and shouting at his home.

But further complaints were received in April and June of this year. On both occasions, wardens witnessed music being played at such a high volume it was clearly audible in neighbouring homes.

Kovacs was not present at magistrates court, but was found guilty of both breaches.

He was fined £250 for each breach and ordered to pay £655 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Rugby Borough Council environment spokeswoman Coun Sally Bragg said: "The council has a duty to take action against neighbours who repeatedly make the lives of others a misery through noise nuisance.

"We have a range of powers to deal with rowdy neighbours, including serving noise abatement notices and seizing noise-making equipment such as stereos and televisions.

"However, in cases where our warnings have been repeatedly ignored, we have no hesitation in taking action through the courts."

Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/noisyneighbours to download a Noisy Neighbours Guide from the council's website.

Residents can report noise complaints to the council's environmental protection team at or on .

Out of office hours, residents can call the council's community safety wardens on . The wardens work from 2pm to 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 1pm to 10pm on Sundays.