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Ashford family’s noise hell as neighbours play musical instruments ‘all day’ - but next door says children are practising for GCSEs

By: Oliver Leonard oleonard@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 27 October 2024

A fed-up family say they are being driven mad by their neighbours’ musical instruments - but the mum next door says her children need to practise for their GCSEs.

Magdalena and David, who did not want to give their surname, say the sound of the drums, piano and saxophone pounds through their walls in Beaver Road, Ashford, “all day, every day”.

Ashford residents Magdalena and David say they 'can't take it anymore' after hearing musical instruments being played next door for the past four years

The couple claim the issue has been ongoing for four years, with the noise starting early in the morning and lasting until late in the evening.

Ashford Borough Council has now confirmed it is reviewing the complaints and may take action.

This week KentOnline visited Magdalena and David at their terraced house, where they live with their seven-year-old daughter.

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They said the noise from their neighbours is having a “huge effect” on their mental health and they “can’t take it anymore”.

Magdalena, who works at a hospital, says the music can start from as early as 7am and go on until 9pm.

David, who works for a manufacturing company, also regularly works night shifts and says the music leaves him unable to sleep during the day.

Read more!

Listen to our recording from inside Magdalena and David’s house

The family say the issue has been ongoing from the day they moved in.

When KentOnline arrived at 3.30pm on Wednesday, the thumping sound of the drums could be heard clearly through the walls.

Magdalena, 44, said: “Working in a hospital is a very busy environment and this is the last thing you want to hear when you come home. You cannot rest!

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“You can hear it in every room in the house. Drums are banging for hours on end.

The family in Beaver Road say their daughter is unable to go to bed on time due to the drums being played next door

“My daughter should be going to bed before 8pm and she can’t because of the noise. You can hear the drums the loudest in her room.

“It’s also stopping her from doing homework.

“We have tried to reason with them but they just won't listen. This has been going on for four years now.”

Following the complaints, ABC has written to Magdalena and David saying “there may be further action the council can take”.

In a letter sent on October 16, an environmental control officer said: “Having reviewed the information that you have provided on the log sheets, I am of the opinion that there may be further action the council can take.

Magdalena and David, of Beaver Road, Ashford, have considered moving house because of the noise

“I will therefore be writing to the subject of your complaint informing them that we have received a complaint about their music and that if it is reported that there is no improvement in the situation we will be carrying out a formal investigation.

“I would now ask that you monitor the situation over the next 2 to 3 weeks to see whether there is any improvement.

“I may then organise installation of recording equipment in your property, or other monitoring so that you can gain evidence to back up the information you provided on your log sheets.“

KentOnline asked the neighbours about the noise complaints and a woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said her children are musicians and “need to practise their instruments”.

She told KentOnline: “This has sadly been a very frustrating time for both families and we have tried to come to agreements over the years.

“Our children are practising their instruments in preparation for their grades and GSCE exams and performances.

“Nobody enjoys disputes with neighbours and we have always had very positive relationships with our neighbours on the other side who have always been supportive.

“This is a very difficult balance to strike and to accommodate everyone’s needs.”

Magdalena says the drums are the “main issue” and believes next door should only be playing at “reasonable hours”.

She added: “We understand that people are allowed to be noisy in the day so we don't complain then. But when they are playing at 7am in the morning until 8pm or 9pm at night it's not acceptable.

“The piano and saxophone usually play in the morning with the drums starting later on in the day. We can't even watch TV in our living room.

“We have thought many times about wanting to move because of our mental health but because of inflation, this is not possible.

“We need to be able to come to some form of agreement but they do not listen to us.”

A spokesman for Ashford Borough Council’s environmental health team said: “We are unable to provide comment on specific cases, however, we can confirm that the council has a statutory duty to investigate alleged statutory noise nuisance complaints, and where satisfied that incidents cross the threshold of a statutory noise nuisance, the council must serve a noise abatement notice.”

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