Clowne: Barking dog costs owner over £1,600

Bolsover District Council had received complaints about dogs continuously barking at the property of Marsha Wheatley, Hickinwood Crescent in Clowne.

The council established that complaints had been received about noise nuisance from the property before and a council official investigated the new complaints and witnessed a dog barking for long periods of time.

After its investigations the council decided to serve an abatement notice on the defendant in April 2013, which required the nuisance to be abated with immediate effect. Wheatley had a right of appeal against the issue of a notice, but no appeal was made.

Complaints continued to be received and council officials visited the area several times between May and July 2013 and noted that the noise nuisance had not been dealt with by the owner so they proceeded with court action.

Wheatley did not appear at Chesterfield Magistrates Court when and in her absence was found guilty under two sections of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

She was handed a fine of £1,200 plus £375 costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

Bolsover council’s cabinet member for the environment, Coun Dennis Kelly said, “The defendant had ample opportunity to sort the problem out but chose to ignore our advice and warnings.

“I mean it was not just a one-off, it had happened before, and was happening again over a period of months.

“Continuous noise such as a barking dog can be very stressful and affect your neighbours’ quality of life and we aim to stamp it out within our neighbourhoods.

“We would like everyone to consider the noise they make and the effect it has on others before it gets out of hand.”