No Swimming Pool After 8pm - AIBU?

[Varala]

We had a swimming pool built (outdoor) last spring which has been great fun for DD and DH (I’m not much of a swimmer), especially during lockdown.

We do have a large garden, but it is bordered by three other nearby houses. Two just by the garden, but one of the houses is up against one of the far walls of the garden, by the pool.

Earlier today, a note was found shoved under DH’s windscreen wiper (not sure what’s wrong with the letter box, but hey ho). It is signed “your neighbours” and requests that we not use the pool after 8pm as they are being disturbed by shouting and splashing.

Very rarely is the pool in use that late in the evening anyway, but on the rare occasion it is, there is certainly not any shouting (though a bit of splashing can’t be helped). Are the neighbours just jealous that we have a pool? I’m fuming and ready to go round each of the neighbours individually to discuss, but DH has told me to drop it and they’ll let it go. AIBU to think it’s nobody else’s business what we do with our pool?

How late have you been out? 8pm seems early to try to insist on no outdoor noise

I can imagine it being really annoying for neighbours if there is shrieking and splashing.

But 8pm is quite early.

Advise them that if they had come and had a (socially distant) chat with you, then you would have agreed to their request, but won't because they are unable to have a normal conversation. Unless they have a reason such as no hearing or a disability that prevents them speaking.

Personally I would have 8.30 9.00pm as a cut off for fun pool time sessions. I wouldn't have a time limit if it was quiet lengths as long as a light wasn't causing a nuisance.

Noise laws aren't 8pm. Ignore them.
Dc are under enough bloody restrictions as it is!!

9pm is reasonable in summer, not 8pm, imho.

hotel swim pools usually have 10pm on the pool

YABU
If you have a large garden it is best practice not to build such things up to the fence especially when it comes to water (as the splashes should really be contained on your own property). If they'll let you use the pool for 12 hours a day it's not really worth the complaining about use after 8 as realistically you wouldn't want to be using it that much later in any case.

Use the pool as you see fit. There is no way the noise from the pool is any worse than music etc outside and police or council wouldn't care until after 11pm for music. You say it's not late and not often. They are being unreasonable. I Suspect you are right they are jealous.

How late do you use it?

I bet they've said 8 hoping for 9.

Good to see people agree with me here. As I said, I rarely use it, but DD and DH often use it until maybe 6:30pm, though rarely later. I’m puzzled as to what the problem is other than, as you say, jealousy.

Well I’m jealous that you have a swimming pool but I wouldn’t think the noise would be any different to someone having a paddling pool, especially those massive ones loads of people have. If you don’t know who they are then you can’t have a reasonable conversation so I’d just ignore them and enjoy yourself.

I'd reply with a very nice polite note - and a compromise "if we're using the pool after 8pm, we'll make sure there's no shrieking or splashing. I'm sorry it's annoyed you, and thank you for letting us know. It won't happen again."

They can't dictate when you use your garden, but sitting in theirs for a quiet evening drink is fair enough.

I suspect you may be underestimating the noise, kids in pools usually equals screaming.

Having said that I’d wouldn’t leave a note on your car.

They are being ridiculous, as long as you aren’t using it past 11pm there is no problem.

I am jealous and I've never met you- they probably are. I'm desperate for the public swimming pools to open again and especially on a hot day like today would love it if this was the kind of problem I was faced with... just enjoy your pool

This Covid age has given the curtain twitching resentful types a platform like never before

Absolutely ridiculous. Enjoy your pool and ignore your jealous neighbours.

I would say YANBU but unless the house nearest the pool was built after your pool I would think you were unreasonable to build your pool right up by a neighbours house. 8pm isn't really too late unless they have children they are getting to bed at that time.

Signed “your neighbours”.

Nice, anonymous note. Courageous.

Ignore.

Ignore them, just enjoy your pool

It would annoy me if you were still be louding after 7 as my small children are in bed by then but also know I couldn't legitimately complain about it.

I'd arrange the swimming towels to spell "fuck off" across the garden when your family swim at 8pm tonight and leave to at that.

They're just jealous, if I had a pool in today's weather I'd be in it until 11 pm then I'd pop in long enough to grab my pillow and go back out to sleep on a lilo.

Hmmm.... I think it's a reasonable request. I don't think they are jealous of your pool - just wanting to be able to relax and wind down in an evening without hearing your kids playing.