Noise warning over boy, four, playing in garden

Simon and Pippa Lansdell have been sent a letter by Hull City Council warning if further complaints are made about their four-year-old son Alfie, they could be served with a noise abatement notice.

They could then be fined up to £5,000 and have to pay a further £500 a day if the noise still doesn’t stop.

Mr Lansdell, a 35-year-old technical engineer, said: “When I first opened the letter I was shocked, then I was absolutely fuming.

“Alfie is a lovely little boy, he likes to play football and skittles and play in his sandpit. He’s no worse than any other four-year-old in terms of noise.

“It’s only a little yard and we’ve tried to explain the letter to him, but he’s only four so doesn’t really understand.

“All children create a bit of noise when they play, its natural. Surely a child should be allowed to make a bit of noise when playing in his own garden.”

Mrs Lansdell, a 31-year-old security officer, added: “It’s the summer holidays, for goodness sake. Children need to play outside. I can’t believe the council took this complaint seriously. I think it makes them look very stupid.”

The couple, from the Avenues area of west Hull, were sent the letter by the council’s environmental health team.

It states the allegation of “noise nuisance” relates to a “child screaming/playing in garden”. The letter asks the couple to consider if Alfie’s behaviour could be a nuisance to others and reveals if further complaints are made, his behaviour could be monitored with digital equipment.

It also states the complainant, who is not identified, has been asked to keep a record of dates and times when Alfie’s playing causes a nuisance.

A city council spokeswoman insisted the authority had a legal obligation to investigate all complaints.