A woman whose dog barked more than 1,000 times in two hours has been convicted of noise nuisance after a successful prosecution by Halton Borough Council
Natalie Tomlinson, 25, of Parbold Court, Widnes convicted on two counts of breaching a noise abatement notice on Monday 21 November before District Judge Knight at Runcorn Magistrates Court.
The court heard how on 31 October 2015 a dog at her property was recorded barking approximately 625 times in one hour. On 2 November 2015, a dog at her property was recorded barking over 400 times in one hour.
Miss Tomlinson pleaded guilty and was fined a total of £200 plus Council costs of £400.
The Judge told Miss Tomlinson that if the nuisance were to continue, the legislation allows a fine of 10% per day of the maximum penalty for every day after conviction that it does continue.
Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Environmental Health, Cllr Stef Nelson, said: “Officers have a duty to respond to and take appropriate action where complaints of noise nuisance are received.
“Officers work hard to ensure that noise emanating from premises is not disproportionate and unreasonable and they play an important role in balancing everybody’s right to reasonable use and enjoyment of their property.
“The circumstances of this particular case resulted in Ms Tomlinson being prosecuted for breaches of an abatement notice that was served on her where it was found that noise caused by a barking dog within in her property was causing a nuisance.
“Noise can have a detrimental effect on people’s lives and whilst Environmental Health are always willing to work with people we will not hesitate to take action against those who fail to comply with the law.”