LONDON, England - August 29, 2011 - Like most boys his age, Alfie Lansdell can spend hours playing happily in his garden. But playtime could soon be over for the boisterous four-year-old after a neighbor complained to Hull City council officials that he was too noisy.
As a result, his parents have been warned that if he doesn't keep quiet, they will be issued with an abatement order and could face a £5,000 fine.
They reacted furiously to the letter from Hull City Council. “We were so shocked when we got the letter, then we just felt angry,” said his father, Simon, a 35-year-old engineer.
“Alfie is a lovely little boy. He's like any other four-year-old. All children create a bit of noise when they play, it's natural. Surely a child should be allowed to make a bit of noise when playing in his own garden? It's the summer holidays, for goodness sake! I just can't believe the council took this complaint seriously.”
He said they tried to explain the letter to Alfie and he was now trying to play a little quieter. But he added, “He's only four. He doesn't realize.”
The couple, who have lived on the street in Hull for five years, are unsure who made the complaint. But their immediate neighbors are standing by them.
Alfie's mother, Pippa, 31, said, “I always watch Alfie when he plays in the garden and he's never that noisy. I don't understand it. The weather's been so bad he's barely had a chance to play outside.”
The letter from the council's environmental health team claims he is a “noise nuisance”. It states that the complaint relates to a “child screaming/playing in garden” and asks the parents to consider the impact it could have on their neighbors.
It then warns them that if the council receives further complaints about the noise, Alfie's behavior could be monitored with digital recording equipment.
The letter says that if convicted, the Lansdells could be fined £5,000, as well as £500 daily “for each day the nuisance continues”.
Mrs. Lansdell, branded it “pathetic”, adding, “What am I supposed to do, gag him and put him in his bedroom?”
A council spokesman said, “We have to investigate any noise complaints we receive and informed Mr. and Mrs. Lansdell a complaint had been received.”
