No Noise Abatement Notices for Lambeg drums from Causeway Coast & Glens Council in last ten years

Members of Council’s Environmental Services Committee were updated on this fact during their recent meeting when they discussed a request from North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows to “pause” any Noise Abatement Notice enforcement for the practice of the Lambeg Drum.

Recently Mr Burrows expressed concern that the issuing of Noise Abatement Notices, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2011, could restrict practice, and warned that one constituent could be facing a £5,000 fine following a Noise Abatement Notice from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

In a letter to members of council’s Environmental Services Committee, Mr Burrows requested that council “pauses the issuing or enforcement” of such notices until guidance has been received from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC).

He added he had been in correspondence with the NIHRC Chief Commissioner to request guidance on the “appropriate balance between statutory environmental powers and the protection of cultural rights in this context”.

“In the interim, I would respectfully request that your council pause the issuing or enforcement of any further Noise Abatement Notices specifically relating to the practice of the Lambeg Drum until guidance has been received from the NIHRC.” he said.

Alliance Councillor Lee Kane said Mr Burrows’ correspondence was “interesting” and enquired how many Noise Abatement Notices council had given out for Lambeg drum practice.

Director of Environmental Services, Aidan McPeake, said council had issued no notices since 2015, and noted the correspondence was not sent specifically to Causeway Coast and Glens, but had been “issued out to all councils”.