Noise Action Week aims to raise awareness of the problems caused by neighbourhood noise and the solutions available to tackle it. Fife Council organises the local campaign with a multi partnership approach with representatives on the group including Police, Council Noise and Mediation Officers. 

Noise Action Week aims to:

• Promote practical solutions to everyday noise problems
• Promote communication and consideration between neighbours
• Inform the public of support services available
• Educate and inform noise makers and noise sufferers about noise reduction
• Encourage everyone to take a quiet moment to consider the noises they make and the noise that affects them - and what can be done to reduce the impact

Many people will tolerate the occasional increase in noise levels, but when it becomes a regular occurrence, or continues late into the night, it becomes a nuisance and complaints are made to the authorities.  The Council can take action against people who are responsible for serious, continuous, ongoing disturbances which cause fear and alarm within our communities.  Please avoid action being taken against you by being more considerate, and making sure your music, or the music of tenants in one your properties, is not loud enough to cause a disturbance to neighbours. 

If you need advice from Fife Council on how to deal with serious anti social behaviour which affects you, contact your Local Service Centre or phone our Contact Centre on 08451 550022 for advice. Alternatively, If the neighbour is not a Fife Council tenant, you can obtain advice from the Housing Investigation Team by contacting them directly on 01592 583642, or email housing.investigations@fife.gov.uk   The Housing Investigation Team can also offer advice to landlords who require advice on how to deal with problem tenants who are causing a noise nuisance within the communities in Fife.

Fife Community Mediation Service has also tackled hundreds of disputes and nine out of ten referrals, which go to mediation, are settled quickly and amicably. The sooner you talk to your neighbour about the difficulties, the easier it is to try and resolve them.  If you would like to speak to a mediator for free, confidential and impartial advice on the best way to try and sort things out for the future, call:  Fife Community Mediation Service on 01592 641618

Dogs bark naturally, however constant barking whining or howling can be disturbing and annoying for you and your neighbours; and is not normal dog behaviour. So Why Do Dogs Bark?

Dogs are pack animals and it is unnatural for them to be on there own. Your dog needs the security of its family group and any long term absence will cause distress, and may lead to behaviour problems, including excessive barking.  The major reasons for dog barking are:

• Isolation and loneliness
• Boredom or frustration
• Attention seeking
• Defending its territory
• Medical problems

If you need help with the training of your dog, you should contact your local dog trainer, listed in Yellow Pages. There may also be a dog club in your area which holds weekly group training sessions.

More advice on barking dogs can be found in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) leaflets which are available from their website as downloadable PDFs called “ Is Your Dog Barking Too Much?” and “Constant Barking Can Be avoided, Offering guidance to dog owners”.