• Registered: 31 March 2011
  • Posts: 142

Topic: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

A recurring theme I have found on this site is how let down we all feel by the systems in place which are designed to protect us but rarely seem to do so.

The typical British stiff upper lip is all well and good but too often we feel simply deflated by the whole ordeal and lost in a sea of red tape.  Often, for those unfamiliar with the little Hitler's in council town halls, there is a feeling that nothing more can be achieved.  I call this the "I have made my complaint, done 2 weeks of diary keeping and EH say there is not a problem so that's it" syndrome.

Well - NO - that's not it.  I worked as a soldier and administrator in the British Army for 27 years and, trust me, most of the little Hitler's I have met would last 10 seconds working for the Army.  They would be dragged across a desk and bitch slapped the first time they rolled their eyeballs.  Why should it be any different in the civilian world?

Councils have a Duty of Care to protect you.  They have a Duty to listen to your concerns and to act upon them.  The fact that many don't is possibly our fault for being too nice and too understanding.  Most council workers I have encountered seem to believe that what they say is gospel simply because they are the ones saying it and they work for the council so they must be right - right??

Wrong - most would not understand their job if they lived to be 200.  Quite often we know more about a certain matter because it affects us and we have taken time to look it up and learn.  Yes there are some good council workers but, in my opinion, very few.

So what can you do?  You have gone through the correct process but found no resolution at the end of it.  The council seem dismissive of your problem but you know it is there because you are living the nightmare every day.  You therefore have 2 options:

Option 1 - Do nothing, roll over and take it, give up and live in hell for the rest of your life.
Option 2 - Get mad.  Think - I am not going to accept this - I dont have to and why should I.

And then make a complaint using the following link:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4018266

Make a complaint to the council about the service you have received - the same service that you pay for through your taxes. 

If you still do not get any joy but you are sure the problem is one that is not being addressed correctly by the council then take your complaint above the councils head and go to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO):

http://www.lgo.org.uk/making-a-complaint/

The LGO is NOT part of the council.  They are a seperate entity entirely.  The council have no power over them and they are impartial and free.  More importantly - they are not scared of the council and if they think they are wrong - they will make sure they are aware.

If all else has failed you.  Then give this process a shot - what do you have to lose?

Last edited by CobraOne (23 July 2011 12:37)

Quote Post 1

  • Registered: 4 July 2011
  • Posts: 305

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

CobraOne and Mac99, Checked out both websites....... What the hell can we do. God i feel useless, helpless and worthless. Today theres no hope, This living hell will never stop. Im an ex army wife, balls of steel..... turned to rubber. LIKE HELL M8. This forum is giving me back some bloody gumption, My new philosophy if you cant beat them join them...... I get stronger everyday. Ill never give up. Two weeks holiday coming up, Ill be making my prescence heard and felt..... Theyve driven me out of my home but im damned if there going to have the luxury of a quiet detached property. I no longer sleep like normal people, Always up by 5.30 a. I shall be taking the 15 minute walk to my flat everyday and wake the pigs up. Now come on think positive all is not lost fight back.......

Quote Post 2

  • Registered: 31 March 2011
  • Posts: 142

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

@Mac99 - Yeah I thought that would be the case but I didnt want to believe it.  I guess until someone challenges the ombudsman's ruling in the High Court and gains media coverage about the LGO working in cohoots with the councils that it may never change.  I guess that is what it would take.

@Annie 3 - I am starting to believe that, in most cases, fighting back with fire against fire is the only way to achieve anything.  Trouble is - most of these parasites are unemployed and so have the time to sleep that most normal people dont.

Quote Post 3

  • Registered: 16 November 2010
  • Posts: 3,805

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

With CobraOne's excellently framed....Question.... and a MAC response....this has to be a sticky post....

I'l add my 2p worth....If I'm incorrect in any way....Mac, I'm not offended to be corrected.


All E H departments have access to a database countrywide....so you think....ok they can look up a particular issue....well NO, it dos'nt appear to work like that....

They ALL appear to administer in their OWN ways....so while one council may accept behavioural noise....ie shouting/screaming as an issue...others would call it normal living noise.

While one council may be willing and are guided by University of Salford on affects/criteria on Low Frequency Noise....another would use the hearing of its Officers....despite NOT everyone being able to detect/suffer it....

hmm  hmm

Quote Post 4

  • Registered: 4 July 2011
  • Posts: 305

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

My neighbours work, They both use cannabis like cigarettes, Weekends they use Base, How do i know this, the village post office, the hub of the village....They dont seem to need much sleep, even with two under fives, But i do know neither of them like getting up in the morning, He dosent leave for work till 9.30 a.m at the earliest. She dosent leave till after lunch. I never made noise in the mornings always conscience of the fact people above still asleep. Always left home at 7.40 a.m quietly. Before i left i became totally paranoid about making any noise, I would creep about terrified i would wake and upset the neighbours. Oh how i wish id had some support, But now i can feel myself changing, feel the anger growing, Theyll know soon enough, Im hoping i can stand my ground, Look them straight in the eye let them know im back.

Quote Post 5

  • Registered: 16 November 2010
  • Posts: 3,805

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

Annie,

Can you not set a recorder/camcorder up to hear if its as you experience when your NOT there??? before you DO anything ????

Quote Post 6

  • Registered: 24 May 2011
  • Posts: 205

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

Interesting reading thanks guys

I wish when EH said to us "if you get anymore noise COME TO US" that we did, byt as we were told our HO was dealing with it, we expected it to be dealt with!!!

Quote Post 7

  • Registered: 17 December 2011
  • Posts: 63

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

Hi

i feel very let down by my housing association, i have video recordings, diaries, statements from people who have heard the noise and from  my nurse, despite two official complaints to the housing association (they told environmental health) they would address the noise issues and the intimidation, they have done nothing.

Quote Post 8

  • Evie
  • Quiet neighbour
  • Offline
  • Registered: 17 January 2012
  • Posts: 13

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

I move into a new housing association flat over Christmas. I'd had to put up with a drunken abusive neighbour living above me for 10 years before the move. After 10 years of filling in diary sheets having to get three solicitors to write to the head office over a period of 3 years they still did nothing, neither did the council. I've got paperwork that could reach the ceiling, anyway eventually when they moved me i though I'd get some peace of mind and be able to sleep, i was wrong I'd only been here about 5 days when the thumping  glasses and scratching of furniture started. I soon discovered that the above leasehold tenants have laminate flooring. after 5 nights of no sleep i went to ask them if they could keep the noise down all i got by reply was If you don't like it call the police. I complained to the council who have set up a recording monitor which i have to switch on myself if i hear any noise, the only problem being i have no idea in advance when it going to occur. Has anyone had experience of such a device and if so can they tell me if the council are obliged by law to inform the housing association that they plan to install the recorder in my flat. Help!!!!!

Quote Post 9

  • Evie
  • Quiet neighbour
  • Offline
  • Registered: 17 January 2012
  • Posts: 13

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

Its gone awful quite since the recorder was installed. It might be a coincidence but it seems very odd. Maybe they have to inform the housing association because of data protection, or because its their property in which case I've got no idea what i can do. The noise is making me ill

Quote Post 10

  • Registered: 12 January 2012
  • Posts: 33

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

Hi Evie
We have just had equipment installed. Our situation is slightly different as we have private tenants next door. The house is managed by a letting agent although privately owned so I think the protocol is different. The first night the equipment was in we had 3 hours of noise but not that much since (funny how you almost welcome it when you can record. I agree it can be difficult to capture some sound if its intermittent.
Like yourself I am new here and its like finding a refuge where people understand what its like to live with nn. I actually feel our problem is not as bad as others as we do get respite from it.
Our neighbour stated when we complianed that he paid his rent ergo he has the right to do as he wishes in his home. Thats funny we pay our dues and I thought we had the right to a reasonable quality of life-not to hear other peoples noise when we are at home or in bed!

Quote Post 11

  • Registered: 4 July 2011
  • Posts: 305

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

Im feeling very despondent Sparky68 and evie.... For me its a case of no you have no rights to enjoy peace and quiet in your own home. Nns can do exactly as they like and you cant do a thing about it. All you can do is give it back, Which believe it or not is not as easy as you think, Its hard work forcing yourself to be a nn. Im withdrawing from life at the moment, Need to sit in a corner and lick my wounds.... Cant think for the life of me of another course of action. Today is a dark day for me.... I really hope you have more luck than me in getting your homes back  sad .

Quote Post 12

  • Registered: 12 January 2012
  • Posts: 33

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

I know its hard Annie 3.
It seems changing the way we behave to them is the way forward. Two doors away from us we have decent neighbors(they have a detached house!). Not overly friendly but enough we can approch them - they are decent people. What happened to respect for others?
As I mentioned i know our noise is not as constant as others have to live with, but we all feel the strain.
Do what you need to do Annie,sit in that corner if it helps-but come out fighting again!

Quote Post 13

  • Registered: 16 November 2010
  • Posts: 3,805

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

Dear Annie,

xxxxxHUGSxxxxxx

Quote Post 14

  • Bo
  • Noisy neighbour
  • Offline
  • Registered: 13 May 2011
  • Posts: 185

Re: Feeling let down by your council? Is there a way to fight back?

Annie... hope your feeling a little better today...

Quote Post 15