Simply Distressed

Tuesday July 5, 2011

A late night Tina Turner fan who insisted on waking up the neighbours with round-the-clock karaoke sessions at ear-splitting volume has been silenced by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Complaints started within days of the woman moving in to Riverside Gardens in Hammersmith in August last year.

Her round the clock singalongs made it impossible for anyone living nearby to sleep and after months of letters and visits from housing officers and neighbourhood wardens the council was forced to show her the door.

Inspectors visited the woman’s home after residents complained and warned her to turn down the racket, but to no avail.

In November last year environmental health officers witnessed the racket and slapped her with a Noise Abatement Notice.

Residents were at the end of their tethers after enduring months of sleepless nights, and in December last year the Council was left with no option but to officially warn her that if the noise continued it would apply to court to have her evicted.

Even after being given a final warning the late night partying continued so a housing officer successfully applied to court for possession. The council was finally able to take possession of the flat in June this year, restoring calm to the neighbourhood.

Councillor Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Resident’s Services, said the council will always take decisive action if people insist on causing mayhem.

Cllr Smith said: “This woman had every opportunity to pipe down and give her neighbours some peace, but she refused to do so.

“Evicting someone is the last resort, but be under no illusions that if you insist on making life a misery for others we will take all necessary action.”

Riverside Gardens residents said the woman gave them sleepless nights and hurled racist abuse at people living nearby.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The music would start at 8 or 9pm and go on all night until the morning. There was lots of banging too, she was clearly drinking a lot.

“People here work very hard, I know one person who had to get up early to start work and they were lucky if they got a couple of hours sleep. She was abusing everyone, making horrible racist comments.

“As soon as she went the noise just stopped, now everything is better. We cannot believe how quiet it is.”