Noisy neighbour in milestone case

And the case marks a milestone in the fight against nuisance neighbours as it is the first time Bury Council have been able to rely on "professional witnesses only".

Neighbours were frightened to make formal statements in court so the council used private investigators to build the case.

At Bury County Court a possession order was granted against council tenant, Barbara Butler, of Rydal Grove, Whitefield. She has to vacate the premises within 28 days and was also ordered to pay costs of £600.

Assistant Recorder Hussain was told council officials took the decision to use private investigators to act as professional witnesses because neighbours living around Mrs Butler were said to be too scared to give evidence in court.

The Assistant Recorder was told how investigators spent up to 12 hours at a time, often into the early hours of the morning, recording nuisances described as "noise, abuse, insulting behaviour and harassment."

One investigator described how the stereo would be played full blast, there would be shouting and screaming both inside and outside the property and on on occasion, fighting spilled out into the street.

This week neighbours, who still wish to remain anonymous, said they were delighted at the result of the case: "We will probably have a party ourselves, now," said one resident. "But it will be a quiet one."

Coun John Smith, Bury's housing and environmental services chairman, said: "No council likes to take its tenants to court but in this case we felt we had no option

"We have used professional investigators in the past but have never relied solely on them to get a possession order.

"Individuals and groups cannot be allowed to continue in this manner and we will take whatever action is needed to put a stop to it.

"Everyone has the right to enjoy peace and quiet in and around their own home."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.