Pendle Borough Council

We’re working hard to improve your environment!

Published Wednesday 21st October 09

Pendle Council’s Executive will be updated on the excellent work being carried out by the Council’s Environmental Health teams to improve the environment for local people at its meeting on 22 October.

They'll find out the latest about the Council's action on Noise Nuisance, Air Quality and Contaminated Land in Pendle.

All three things are continually monitored and updates are provided to the Executive on a regular basis.

The Executive will hear about the continued success of the Night-time Noise Service, which was launched in June 2008.

It's a joint initiative with the other Pennine Lancashire councils, whereby people with ongoing noise complaints can phone Environmental Health staff between 8.00pm and 3.00am on weekends.

Philip Mousdale, Pendle Council's Executive Director for Community & Citizen Services, said:

"The Night Time Noise Service is proving a lifeline for people who are suffering ongoing noise issues out of office hours. 

"We can now respond more quickly and witness the nuisance for ourselves so that we can take more effective action.

"Whilst noise is not a problem for many people in Pendle, for those who do suffer at the hands of their neighbours, it can have a devastating effect on their quality of life.

"We are serious about helping people and since June 2008, we have successfully prosecuted 4 people who have ignored our requests to be more considerate.

"We now have the power to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £500 if warnings are ignored.

"We hope this will prove even more of a deterrent to the culprits."

The Executive will also hear the latest reports on Air Quality and Contaminated Land in Pendle.

They will learn how the Council has a new piece of specialist equipment, known as a real-time nitrogen dioxide analyser, which gives precise readings of nitrogen dioxide in the air, not just indications.

Richard Walsh, one of the Council's Principal Environmental Health Officers explained:

"We monitor seven different pollutants in the air and nitrogen dioxide is the only one which appears to be exceeding recommended levels.

"If levels in an area are found to be above what's recommended, that area will be declared an Air Quality Management Area and we will work with Lancashire County Council to try to reduce them."

The meeting will also hear how Pendle is way ahead of most other Lancashire Councils in identifying and remedying contaminated land.

Unlike the majority of other Councils in the area, we have now identified all 1064 sites in the area which may be contaminated to establish a rank order of those that need further investigation. 

And samples from the five sites with the highest priority are currently being assessed by Greater Manchester Geological Unit, an independent consultancy firm based within Manchester University.

Councillor David Clegg, who speaks out on Environmental Health issues in Pendle, said:

"Much of what our team of Environmental Health specialists does can go unnoticed by residents, unless they are experiencing a problem.

"They are busy working behind the scenes to make sure Pendle is a safe place to live, work and visit."

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