Neighbours made over 1,000 recordings of a noisy gym blasting loud music next to their homes during fitness classes. A council that took the business to court said it was "disgraceful" that the owners "ignored orders" to turn the volume down.
People living near the gym recorded meticulously dated and timed examples of loud music used during exercise sessions dating back to January 2020. More than 1,000 recordings were collected and filed before being submitted as evidence to show the level of amplified music coming from the premises.
The Manchester Evening News reports that, according to neighbours, music was booming from PT41 Fitness on Lodge Road, Radcliffe, from around 6am seven days a week. Noise abatement notices were served on the gym but these were breached many times, Bury Council said.
Equipment was seized by enforcement officers twice. But the council said the gym replaced the gear and continued to cause a statutory nuisance by playing loud music.
At court on May 4, the gym's owner pleaded guilty to breaching a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Manchester Magistrates' Court imposed a fine of £492, plus a victim surcharge of £197 and costs of £3,000.
The court also awarded a forfeiture order allowing the council to keep all the noise-making equipment it had previously seized. Coun Alan Quinn, Bury Council's cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: "Noisy neighbours can make people’s lives a misery, and it’s disgraceful that the gym owners ignored orders to keep the noise down and allowed these problems to carry on for so long.
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"Well done to the residents for refusing to sit back and take it, and for keeping such diligent records which assisted us in the prosecution. We will continue to take action against those who indulge in anti-social behaviour and break the law."
