POWYS residents who are plagued by noisy neighbours could be helped by a new new smartphone app launched by the local authority.

Powys County Council launched the Noise App during the recent Noise Action Week after the council’s housing and environmental protection services teamed up to allow residents to contact them in a new and innovative way.

Following a successful trial by the council, local residents with a smartphone or tablet can now download the free app and use it to submit evidence in relation to an alleged noise nuisance.

Reporting of a noise nuisance to the council is still done in the same way but residents now have the option of using the app to log when the noise happens and also to record it.

Using the app doesn’t replace noise monitoring visits by council officers to determine whether a statutory noise nuisance exists but it makes it easier for residents to provide evidence to support their allegations.

Councillor John Powell, Cabinet Member for Environmental Protection, said, “We are committed to using new technology to benefit local residents and hopefully make things easier for them to contact us.

“The Noise App is straightforward to use and makes it easy to log dates and times as well as take recordings if people wish to send them to us electronically.

“A noise nuisance is more than annoyance and much more than just detection of a noise. It is a significant and unreasonable noise that affects you in a significant and unreasonable way. We can look into noise nuisance caused by music, DIY, motors or barking dogs.”

Anyone who is affected by a noise nuisance can report via the Noise App, by visiting www.powys.gov.uk or by calling 0845 6027037.