Our noisy neighbours make our life a living hell – cops have told us to just buy earplugs but the stress could kill us
AN elderly couple were told to move house or buy ear plugs when they reported their noisy neighbour to the police.
John Taylor, 74, and wife Hilary, 80, say their lives have been made a “living hell” and fear the stress could kill them both.
Mr Taylor, who has suffered several strokes and heart attacks, said the problem began four years ago with building work at the bungalow next door in Worcester.
He says they have since been disturbed by loud music, laughing, noise from his neighbour’s friends and a dog which barks and howls at all hours of the day and night.
Mr Taylor, who has lived with his wife at the bungalow they own for the last nine years, believes he has called police around 50 times but feels he has been ‘fobbed off’.
He has since made complaints to his local MP Robin Walker, West Mercia Police and Worcestershire Regulatory Services.
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The former wheeltapper said he and his wife often have to sleep on tiny sofas even though his wife suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and a crooked spine.
The great-grandfather said: “It is a living hell. There has been hammering at all times of the day and night.
“We have phoned the police on several occasions. We have phoned them at 1am or 2am about the noise. We had two community officers come around.
“One gave us two bits of advice – buy earplugs or move house, sell the bungalow. But why should I sell my home?”
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Mr Taylor is now keeping a diary of noise-related incidents which he started in June after claiming a previous file was lost by regulatory services.
One entry from August 10 referred to ‘ear-splitting’ noise after 11pm which forced the couple to spend the night on sofas because it was quieter in the lounge than the bedroom.
He added: “I kept a big file of everything that was going on. They (regulatory services) were going to install some equipment to record the noises.
“I sent them a pile of stuff. But then the guy who was dealing with it left and they lost all the paperwork. Nobody did anything about it at all.
“It’s not right that we should have to sleep on our settees. West Mercia Police have been absolutely diabolical. They have done absolutely nothing.
“It is absolute hell. People would not believe what we have gone through.”
Meanwhile, he continues to suffer from angina and had two stents fitted ‘eight or nine years ago’ and believes he could die if the stress continues.
But Michael Reynolds, who lives next door, denies he is the cause of the problems and insists the only noise he has made was from building work shortly after he moved in.
The 48-year-old said police had been around to see him and they had been ‘fine’ and ‘lovely’.
Mr Reynolds said that throughout the day he was normally at work and added: “He has sent the police around two or three times and they have been lovely.
“When I first moved in I did a lot of building. It’s just started getting silly.
“You can carry on your building until 11pm but I never did it that late.
“I tried to smooth it over with them. He kept coming around all the time.”
A spokesperson for Mr Walker said he could not compel West Mercia Police or the regulatory services to take action but was able to ask them to review the issues raised.
A spokesperson said: “In the meantime, we encourage you to continue reporting any anti-social behaviour or noise nuisance that occurs to both organisations.”
Inspector Fergus Green, from Worcester Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We are aware of the complaints made by Mr Taylor.
“He has repeatedly reported noisy neighbours which, as frustrating as it may be, is not a police matter.
“We do understand these issues can cause distress and there are agencies who can help.
“We are aware that the reports have been passed onto Worcester Regulatory Services.”
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A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: “Our regulatory services team have investigated several complaints about noise in Newtown Road since September 2020.
“Our community safety team are now investigating complaints of anti-social behaviour in the area, and consulting with the police.”