An issue raised by Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum recently is the nuisance caused by the endless succession of scrap metal merchants advertising their presence. Most residents have a scrap metal merchant pass by most days, including Sundays, using amplifiers, horns or bugles. The noise wakes young children and babies as well as disturbing people on night shifts.

I’ve discussed the matter with Henry Biddington, an Environmental Health Officer at Birmingham City Council, who has clarified the legal situation as follows:

“An offence under the Control of Pollution Act is if the Scrap Metal Merchants use an amplified loud speaker attached to the van to play music or shout through to advertise that they are there to collect scrap. This would not include merchants shouting, using megaphones, or using musical instruments.”

Mr Biddington goes on to explain the process by which BCC will take action against such offences:

“if the constituents wish to complain and can provide this Department with a witness statement containing registration details these can be checked and warning letters can be sent to offenders. If the Department gets further complaints about the same merchants then prosecution proceedings may be considered. However the basis of the prosecution would be on the evidence provided by the constituent and therefore they must be willing to appear in court and give evidence against the merchant.”

So if you wish to complain about a scrap metal merchant breaking the rules explained above, you need to get the number plate of the vehicle and email it to Mr Biddington at henry.biddington@birmingham.gov.uk

I’d be interested in hearing if you do and what response you get.