Owner fined after failing to address fowl noise  

A man who let his birds create an ongoing disturbance has been ordered to pay more than £3,400.  

James Fell, of Manor Crescent, Stanford in the Vale, was found guilty in his absence of charges relating to a statutory nuisance arising from cockerel and guinea fowl noise. 

The case was heard at Oxford Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 13 November.  

Following complaints from neighbours, an abatement notice was served on Mr Fell on 16 October 2024.  However, he failed to comply with the notice and the noise continued, as evidenced in court through recordings obtained from noise monitoring equipment installed in the complainant’s house and via the Noise App.   

Mr Fell failed to engage throughout the investigation and prosecution.  The noise nuisance has had a detrimental impact on his neighbours and continues to do so as Mr Fell has increased the number of birds he has. 

Magistrates were satisfied the abatement notice was correctly served and that the nuisance had continued. In reaching that decision they found the evidence of the two witnesses to be credible, as well as considering evidence from the environmental health officer which included the analysis of noise recordings.  

Mr Fell was therefore fined £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264 and prosecution costs of £2,514.02 = total £3,438.02. 

Councillor Hayleigh Gascoigne, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Action and Nature Recovery, at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: Noise nuisance can have a significant impact on people’s quality of life, and we take these cases very seriously. Despite repeated opportunities to resolve the issue, the owner of these birds failed to act, leaving neighbours to suffer ongoing disturbance.” 

“We are pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of this case and supported our efforts to protect residents’ peace and quiet. This outcome sends a clear message that ignoring legal notices will not be tolerated.”