Stop moaning, rural incomers told

Incomers who move into the countryside and complain about the noise of church bells and cricket matches have been told: Stop moaning about the sound of village life.

That is the effect of a ruling by a judge in the High Court after a woman grumbled about disturbance from a pub beer garden when she moved into the house next door. The judgement has today been welcomed by Selby Martin.

Mr Martin is vice-president of Shropshire Council to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

He said: "The tranquillity of the countryside is paramount, but you have to accept long-standing noises – whether from a pub, church bells or cricket pitch – are part of the audio scenery."

It follows a High Court defeat for St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, which had supported a complaint from Jane Lockley, who was upset she could hear drinkers chatting in the beer garden of the adjoining Moloko pub.

The case originally went before magistrates who were satisfied there was a noise nuisance.

However, taking into account she had known about the pub when she moved in, and following efforts by the publican to reduce that nuisance, they dismissed the case against pub owner Jass Patel.

Upholding that decision in the High Court, Mr Justice Forbes dismissed an appeal by the council.

Mr Martin said: "People who buy property anywhere, whether in town or country, should find out before they decide to purchase just what noises there are in the vicinity.

"For example, if you buy a property in St John's Hill, Shrewsbury, you should be aware there is a church next door and the bells will ring.

"The same principle applies if you move next door to a pub."

Mr Martin said people might have a stronger case if they moved into a cottage in the country and their neighbour suddenly decided to change activities, for example, by starting a pig or chicken farm.

"A particular issue at this time is when people move into the countryside and find a windfarm is to be built nearby," he said.

Mr Martin said another thorny topic was disturbance in the south Shropshire area of outstanding natural beauty from RAF helicopters on practice flights.

"When people are training to help others, it is difficult to say they should not do it," he said.

Mr Martin said a distinction had to be made between permanent and temporary disturbance.

He said: "For example, I live near the site of the former Radbrook Hall Hotel in Shrewsbury which is being turned into homes.

"We get the dreadful bleeping of lorries reversing all day long but we accept this because the work will be finished in a few months."

He added: "You even get people complaining about the noise of cocks crowing in the morning but you will never stop that."