Complaints about noise in the Strabane District Council area have increased by almost 50%, newly released figures reveal.
According to the Department of the Environment, noise complaints in the town have risen by 47% – the highest in the North.
Figures show noise complaints received by district councils from April 2012 to March 2013 fell less than 1%.
A total of 12,142 complaints were received in 2012/2013, compared to 12,193 in 2011/2012.
The report finds that domestic noise remains the largest source of noise in Northern Ireland, accounting for 82% of all complaints made in between April 2012 and March 2013. The domestic noise sources most complained about were loud music, television or parties and animal noise.
Commenting on the DOE’s Noise Complaint Statistics for Northern Ireland 2012/2013 which were published today, Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: “This is the first year when the night-noise powers contained within the Noise Act 1996 apply to all district councils across Northern Ireland, having previously applied only to Belfast City Council.
“Given that domestic noise is the largest cause of noise complaints and loud music, television and parties are the major culprit within this category, I urge all councils to make full use of these powers to help them address and reduce noise and improve the quality of life of affected citizens.
The report also highlights the councils which experienced the greatest reductions and increases in the number of complaints.
The most significant increases in noise complaints were experienced by Strabane District Council (47%), Ballymena Borough Council (32%) and Craigavon Borough Council (27%).
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