COUNCIL chiefs have come under fire over plans to axe its noise team – despite thousands of people relying on the service to tackle out-of-control parties and anti-social behaviour.

The Glasgow Times can exclusively reveal that the cash-strapped local authority will cease operating the out of hours Domestic Noise Service in April 2025.

It’s understood that trade unions are in urgent talks with bosses to make sure staff are offered redeployment, voluntary redundancy or early retirement.

One source, who has been plagued by anti-social behaviour for years, said that the changes will have serious repercussions for people right across the city.

He said: “At the moment there are only three members of staff left within the noise team and often there’s only one person dealing with calls at weekends, which is the busiest time for domestic complaints.

“It really is shocking that due to budget constraints this vital service will be lost. The real concern is what does it mean for the elderly and vulnerable who rely on advice from noise officers to deal with unruly neighbours and other problems. The fear is that these issues are going to go completely unaddressed and only get worse.”

We previously revealed that fed-up Glasgow residents have logged more than 24,000 noise complaints to the council over the last five years – with rowdy parties, DIY jobs and barking dogs among the issues.

The figures released to the Glasgow Times under Freedom of Information laws, show that Wyndford Road in the city’s Maryhill lodged the highest volume of calls, with 166 recorded by the local authority.

Glasgow's noisiest streetsGlasgow's noisiest streets (Image: Gordon Terris) Most of these are related to anti-social behaviour, including shouting, banging on floors and walls, blaring amplified music and unacceptable noise levels from social gatherings.

The data also revealed some more unusual nuisances left people at the end of their tether, such as rumbling domestic appliances.

The figures showed a total of 24,009 reports were made to the council, with 4,608 lodged in 2017, 2,749 in 2018, a total of 4,266 in 2019, another 3,738 in 2020, 3,717 in 2021 and a further 3,931 in 2022/23

Council officers were also called to give advice to residents on anti-social behaviour in Broomhill Lane, Duke Street, Crow Road, Great Western Road, Earl Street, Napier Place and Wynford Road, which were all highlighted as among the city's worst affected places.

(Image: Gordon Terris) Residents will face having to try and log complaints with Police Scotland once the council service closes next year.

Our source added: “I've been subjected to anti-social behaviour for years, despite living in a somewhat residential area. Losing this service will leave people with only the police to turn to, and they are busy enough.

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“I understand there’s a lot of financial pressure on the local authority but taking away help that folk rely on isn’t the answer. They should be looking at other ways to keep the out of hours service going – this needs a rethink.”

The FOI probe also showed that a total of 17,377 issues around noise coming from commercial premises across Glasgow were logged, with 26 statutory warnings handed out over the past five years.

(Image: Gordon Terris) Glasgow City Council has the power to serve abatement notices on individuals who are making too much noise, which require them to stop or limit it. If the person fails to comply, they can be prosecuted and fined at the city’s sheriff court.

Mediation services are often also used to try and resolve conflict between warring parties, with the free service assisting them to 'talk things through' and find common ground.

A council spokeswoman admitted that the service is to go following a budget review.

They said: “We can confirm that, as part of the council’s budgetary review process, it was decided that the Out of Hours Domestic Noise Service in its current format will cease in the financial year 24/25.

“Staff are currently offering an advice-only service, seven days a week between 5pm and 3am. This will remain the case until the end of the financial year. Information will be published ahead of that to advise the public how to report domestic noise complaints.

“There will be no compulsory redundancies. We are currently in negotiations with the trade unions and staff are being offered redeployment, voluntary redundancy or early retirement.”