Topic: Somebody help please
Dear 'Somebody Help Please' !
My mum and dad moved into a retirement bungalow 2 years ago. From almost day one the daughter of the neighbour who owns next door has constantly played loud music throughout the night. She has physically threatened my parents and even 'promised' to kill them if they continue to complain. Of course, we have contacted the Environmental guys and the Police who try (?) but at the end of the day I/we are now at our whit's end with the whole situation with 2 elderly parents and their neighbour who is laughing at the law and continuing to stick two fingers up to everyone. I fear this is now making my parents ill, my mother is already suffering with cancer .. the woman next door doesn't care, the Police cannot do anything, Environmental Health are toothless; they record and record and record... but ultimately the woman next door knows the system and doesn't care.
To add to the situation the neighbour responsible for the noise has a long list of previous, including an incident of stabbing which made the local newspaper 7 years ago.
My parents have worked heir whole life and are absolute genuine caring citizens & the neighbour just does not care ... she is killing them, the authorities cannot (or will not) do anything concrete.
This is a sad sad situation where it seems once again the perpetrator has all the rights --- never worked, doesn't care & hates the world. My parents, ill, absolutely would help anyone in their hour of need and never had an incident with the law in 77 years are tossed aside.
No idea where to go next.... any ideas?
PLEASE HELP!
Darryl, I've moved your post to this section, as it's a lot more appropriate place. For a start, you have to realise that a police force doesn't have to deal with noise issues - some will, some won't. However, a threat is something that the police have to take seriously and record, especially as they know that the neighbour has a record of violence. Please get your parents to contact their local police, tell them about the threat(s), and ask that it be logged. I'm sure that the police will take that seriously, and is important if anything else happens. Certainly, that was what happened with a friend of mine, who was having to deal with a very unstable neighbour.
As far as the noise issue is concerned, your parents must make a written record (which they may already be doing) fo excessive noise, times and dates. They MUST do the same for any implied or actual threats. Some Environmental Health Officers are more helpful than others, but please bear in mind that even the best is very overworked and, these days, noise is just one environmental problem they have to sort out. I'd guess that your local EHO is very overworked. Whatever, your parents, or you as their representative, time-consuming though it is, must keep on at the EHO, and keep emphasising the devastating effect it's having on their health. If possible, get their GP's written support for this. Ask for recording equipment be installed. It may be that legal action will have to be taken in the end, but the GP's evidence and police records will help.