Rave Got Noise Abatement Served on it

Herefordshire Council’s environmental health officers were called out to a rave in the early morning of Sunday 17th July, being held in a barn off the A4137 at Stopgates near Glewstone and Marstow.

It was estimated by the police and council that about 300 or more people had attended and it became clear that the event had been organised by a local farmer’s son via his facebook site.

It seems the invite had been cascaded on and on to other like minded revellers across Birmingham, Bristol and the Welsh Valleys. Officers found that a DJ’s rig with large speakers powered by a noisy generator had been set up in a three-walled barn giving rise to excessively loud music all night through to the following morning.

An environmental health officer had to attend the site with the police and a noise abatement notice was eventually served.

Marc Willimont, Herefordshire Council’s regulatory services manager, said: “This person had clearly not thought of the consequences of holding an open invite party advertised on facebook and the severe nuisance it then caused to many neighbours.

“Although we are pleased that the notice was complied with, it was a shame that residents had to suffer really excessive noise up until this point. We hope it will not recur. We do not discourage parties, but please do not hold them frequently, please make you’re your neighbours know about it and most importantly, please keep the volume down and be very careful about who you invite, making sure you have limited the numbers and remain in control of the party at all times.”

Environmental health officers have powers to abate noise nuisance by serving a notice on those who continue to cause excessive noise. A breach of such a notice will normally lead to a fine at the local magistrates court and can often result in the seizure of the offending equipment.

Environmental health and trading standards can be contacted on 01432 261761 or via info@herefordshire.gov.uk.