The noise conspiracy

Mediation is not a solution to domestic noise nuisance. Acoustic insulation is. How can Liam Jensen (Letters, 21 May, page 25) ask noise sufferers to tell neighbours not to laugh or cry, not to enjoy themselves, not to rush up and down stairs, not to use the television, without ending up in arguments or feuds?

Lack of insulation is the origin of neighbour disputes and feuds that are breaking up neighbourhoods and communities. So that’s where the remedy has to be implemented. But councils and social landlords are conspiring to keep pre-1992 homes uninsulated.

The people supposed to help noise sufferers are health environment officers, but these are extremely reluctant or even forbidden to take any social landlord to court because they might have to take their own council and employer to court.

In this situation, how can a noise sufferer believe in or expect any justice? What happens to the council’s duty of care for its residents?

What’s needed is a health environment officer service independent of councils and social landlords. Only then will noise sufferers have justice.