AIBU to give you an update re Church noise?

I think it's a bit much to expect a church congregation to lower their noise levels. That can't really be controlled

Of course it can in this instance. All they have to do is turn the amplifiers off.

You have GOT to be taking the mick, @Gromit78. “Blessed”?! And as for “can’t be controlled”, maybe the SDA could just NOT amplify the music??

I'm another who initially thought "well what do you expect" as you moved there and it's perfectly normal to be able to hear church services from outside the building.

But this sounds so extreme and stressful. The issue is the useless Methodist minister as he's blocked any reasonable resolution at every step. The SDA have been making a racket for years with their landlord saying nothing to them and doing nothing about it. The only issue they see is just the occasional cross lady milling about telling people off (from their point of view, I don't actually think you're even a tiny bit unreasonable), so they just carry on - why wouldn't they? Neither the council, their landlord, or anyone higher up have actually pointed out that they are the problem. Neighbours can be moany and unreasonable so they probably tell themselves that that's what you are as someone else would have intervened otherwise. Minister should have stepped up at the beginning and made it clear that they couldn't have that kind of service in this building/location so tone it down or move on... So it's all on him that it's had to escalate this far. I bet he hates confrontation so does the 'easiest' thing every time (console you, make low level reassuring noises, never actually do anything about it).

It sounds like you can do something to get this sorted if you pull all the stops out with the various channels mentioned on here and don't lose your head.

Good luck! I hope you can get your Saturday's back.

One question - the noise levels that breach decibel thresholds - is that from the service or the crowds or both? If they end up limiting the service, will the hours of loud gatherings still be an issue that you can't fix as it won't be deemed bad enough?

This is going to cause you a nightmare should you ever come to sell your house.

Where are the busses full of worshippers coming from? If it were me I’d be tempted to follow them home and set up loud speakers in front gardens.

I’d be willing to bet they ramp up the noise just to add to your distress knowing full well the council and church aren’t doing a thing.

This is a truly awful situation and I’m not surprised your mental health is suffering.

*to the racket

I would be sorely tempted to phone the Methodist minister every half-hour

Oooh! - YES!

Or better still, ring him at daft-o'clock in the morning, and hold the phone out the racket and ask him if he thinks that being woken up and kept awake at this hour is acceptable.

I would be sorely tempted to phone the Methodist minister every half-hour, and complain about the noise. I would also second the excellent advice to get onto your MP, and get her/him involved.

All the people who didnt bother to read the first thread, and just keep bleating about bells, BUGGER OFF!!

@Skittlenommer you really didn't read the original thread... She moved and lived next to the church 11 years without any issue. It is since the 7da Church starting renting out the church that there has been noise issues.

More like someone living in peace for over a decade when suddenly a nightclub moves next door and uses your road as a car park.

Rtft

I read your other thread, and was appalled. Just because someone is 'there first' (technically speaking the SDAs weren't) doesn't mean they can make others lives hell. So completely selfish.

If after the 6 weeks, you don't get a better outcome, would you consider going to social media or the papers? Post recordings of the noise and endless videos of them outside of your house. I seem to remember they can be out there at 5am shouting? None of the posters saying suck it up would accept this.

And blast out some Ace of Spades through a megaphone, when they are socialising infront of your front door.

I hope this actually comes to a reasonable conclusion for you OP it sounds like an absolute nightmare.

As for the late night issues when the 7DA are leaving, would that possibly be counted as antisocial behaviour due to the time they're leaving? Sorry if that's already been suggested and it's only a small part of the much bigger issue - but if it falls into that category a police report might help?

I have never experienced your situation, my noise complaint when I lived in a different location was due to an antisocial neighbour playing music at early hours in the morning, outside his flat on full volume (he'd come out anywhere between 2am and 4am and stay out there as long as he liked). I started the ball rolling with the council's complaint procedure but it never really seemed to go anywhere until I started reporting it to the police via 101. I did make it clear that I wasn't asking them to come out as there was little they could do, but asked that they record it and provide me with reference numbers each time. When they added up to around 10 or so, the council took the complaint more seriously and followed the issue up more promptly than when I was just dealing with them (if that makes sense?).

I don't know if you've already tried this or if it will even help but wanted to mention it as a possibility. Good luck OP

Ps the council parking enforcement team have given me a direct line number to report double yellow line parking, we have a major issue in my area

You didn't read the original thread did you... Not the methodist service on a Sunday that is the problem but when they rent it out to the 7DA on a Saturday. Who only just started to rent the church a few years ago.

Juells it’s maddening, especially when it’s someone distressed.

Interestingly since the first post I have had a complaint through my letterbox (I work for a church) about noise, from a neighbour that moved in 2 weeks ago. They complained that the choir were noisy (choir practice ends at 9pm) and that there's lots of cars in OUR car park aka they couldn't park their car illegally there, also moaned about the "concerts" every Sunday evening, it's called EVENSONG! I spoke to the council (it's a council house) who told me to file it under BIN. We have a noise limiter in the halls, a policy of events ending by 10pm and don't use amplification, the organ is 100 years old so no residents can complain it's new!

Where is the Methodist manse in relation to the church?
OP I think I would be inclined to make an appointment at my MPs surgery.

A church doesn't have that to lose.

That's why I'd make sure the Methodist minister suffered every time I was kept awake.

could be, Herocomplex. Can't think of another explanation, apart from Hard of Comprehension

@Katiepoes exactly they have to turn off the music at midnight, a lot of this is going on long before any noise restrictions kick in. Anything after 11pm is fair game for complaint, but during the day/evenin people are free to make noise, if it's above a certain level (much louder than you would think), and is detected as such by the council's detection equipment they may have to moderate it. People talking laughing etc won't fall foul of the legislation/guidance. I have experience of these scenarios and supported clients through the same process the OP is going through (not churches though). I'm not saying it's pleasant to live near, and the parking should be dealt with, but pre 11pm noise is very difficult to do much about, licensed premises are actually held to higher accountability because it can jeopardise their alcohol on trade license or any renewal applications. A church doesn't have that to lose.

I wondering if people think it’s funny to do it Nanny0gg

Anyone else really fed up with the Hard of Comprehension people about these days?

Please, if you don't know what's going on/haven't read the thread, don't comment just to put the boot in!

You moved next door to a church. You’re the type of people who move next door to a music venue and then have it shut down because it’s noisy.

@sayoolala, I was thinking exactly the same thing.

OP, you can't be the only ones affected (plus neighbour). What about the neighbour whose terrace backs onto your house? Can you pop round and ask if they can hear? What about on the other side of the church, who lives there? If the issue is numbers, you need to get more on your side.

OP, love the diagram! What is across the main road from your house? I'm just wondering whether you have a further allie in tackling this.

THE council sound like they have failed you here-four years of complaints and they say they were all closed?

Id go higher in the council its just not good enough to be fobbed off for this long

6 weeks? The council are taking the piss.