18 to 23 May is Noise Action Week and this year we are looking at the noise problems of keeping cockerels, especially in urban areas.
Our Environmental Health team has seen a near 400% increase in the number of complaints received about cockerels in the past five years, from 38 in 2009-10 to 147 in year 2014-15.
Keeping poultry in an urban environment can cause a number of problems including noise, vermin and odours.
If you keep poultry, in particular a cockerel, please consider your neighbours and don’t fall foul of the law. You have a duty to make sure that your cockerel does not cause a nuisance.
If someone’s cockerel is causing a nuisance you can report the noise on our website or call our Environmental Health team on 01274 434366. The owner could be served with a legal notice which requires the nuisance to be stopped. If they don’t comply they could face a fine of up to £5000.