NEW proposals could mean Oxford City Council officers stop taking action against noisy neighbours who make people’s lives a misery.

Under planned cost-cutting changes to be discussed by a council committee next week, officers would only offer “advice, guidance and referral” to many exasperated residents complaining about loud music from next door.

Noisy neighbour complaints are among 15,000 “low priority” phone calls received by the council’s Environmental Development team, which must cut £162,000 from its staffing budget by 2015.

The council was last night unable to define what other complaints would also be classed as “low priority” or what threshold of noise would have to be suffered before the council took action.

But John Tanner, the councillor responsible, insisted law-breakers would still be pursued.

Elizabeth Mills, of the Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association, said East Oxford residents already suffering noise from student houses already had to deal with three different bodies – the police, the council and the universities – to sort out noise complaints.

She added: “To hear now any suggestion that Oxford City Council is to make it even more difficult for members of the public who feel under siege fills me with dread.

“If members of the public go round and try to reprimand students themselves, they are putting themselves in real danger of being at least abused and maybe assaulted by drunk young people.

“It is impossible for members of the public to cope without support from the local authority.”

And St Aldate’s resident Jonathan Ungar, 45, who has been blighted by noisy Tesco deliveries, added: “If you know how much damage this can have on your life, then you assume local authorities are there to protect people against this.”

Mr Tanner said last night: “If music is so loud that it could be an offence, then we will take action. If people are simply playing music that is annoying, we probably would not want to, and would leave it to the residents to sort out between them.

“What we are talking about is prioritising.

“We do not have the money to deal with some of the disputes we have between neighbours, and do not think that is a priority, but we have got to deal with the most serious.”

HOW COMPLAINTS WILL BE HANDLED

* BEFORE: When officers receive a complaint, and after sending out information, they contact the resident and the source of the noise.

If there are reasonable grounds for action, an officer gathers evidence of the disturbance.

If necessary, they will serve an abatement order, and if the noise continues and is witnessed again, they will either prosecute the person responsible or seize the equipment.

* AFTER: When officers receive a complaint, they will explain the new policy and offer advice.

Residents will be directed to advice on the council’s website, or directed to the local law centre or other body, and then will have to use this information to address issues themselves.

(Source: Oxford City Council)