A NEW smartphone app has been launched to help residents tackle the problem of noisy neighbours. 

Copeland Borough Council has signed up to Noise App - a new digital device to help keeps tabs on antisocial behaviour. 

Figures from the last 12 months show that 98 people have made official complaints to Copeland Borough Council, with 33 instances involving neighbour noise. 


Mike Starkie, Copeland mayor.  Elected mayor of Copeland, Mike Starkie, says noise pollution can be a real issue for some residents. 

He said: “Noise pollution is something which our environmental health team take complaints about. 

"An example of one year in Copeland is 127 complaints about noise which resulted in 10 notices being served. 

"Though out of a population of 70,600, with 34,183 homes this is a small number of people, the impact on those individuals who have experienced the suffering of noisy neighbours is immense."

The app, which is due to be tested in Copeland, Allerdale and Carlisle, will be used to revamp the complaints process. 

Instead of painstakingly reporting all incidents through a paper diary, people with complaints about noise levels can now record 30-second sound bites which can be sent directly to council officers. 

This allows them to save time by making sure they are dealing with genuine issues. 

Mr Starkie said: “We have three members of staff covering all of our environmental protection, including noise, so to be able to give residents a means of measuring and collecting information about their complaint is something which can help us to target our resources and use them more productively.

“By using the app residents will be able to record exactly what it sounds like, and this will replace the existing paper diaries we ask people to complete.

 “Residents will be able to send electronically the e-recording to our environmental health team quickly and we will be able to plot the complaints and identify areas of concern quickly."

The app will be launched on April 1 and people across Copeland, Allerdale and Carlisle will be able to take advantage of the new system. 

Mr Starkie said: “We now have the technology in our pockets with our mobile phones which can be used by downloading a simple app to help tackle noise pollution more efficiently and effectively. 

"We welcome the opportunity to be able to offer this to our residents.”