Church bells are silenced in fear of European Union law

the Daily Telegraph ^ | 17 Oct 02 | By Richard Savill

[Glutton]

Complaints by new residents have silenced the church bells in a small country town after the vicar feared the chimes could be breaking European law.

The bells at St Mary's Church in Totnes, Devon - England's second oldest borough - have sounded every quarter of an hour since a civic subscription scheme paid for the clock to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.

But a small group of residents - believed to be newcomers - have protested that the chimes stop them sleeping at night.

"Amongst the old Totnesians, there is a certain amount of fury that I have silenced the clock," said the Rev Nicholas Martin.

"But I have been advised by a lawyer friend that the European Court of Human Rights has said people should be guaranteed the right to sleep free of noise, light or smell pollution.

"I felt therefore I had no alternative but to silence the clock, as technically we could be in breach of the law. I don't know if anyone would have taken us to court, but European law is becoming more important."

Mr Martin said he hoped that as a compromise he would be able to fit a special mechanism so that the chimes would only sound during daylight.

However, this would cost £1,500 and the church had already spent £100,000 on roof repairs, he added.

Mary Wesley, the best-selling author of The Camomile Lawn and one of the more established residents of Totnes, said: "I love the church, and the chimes are a big part of life down here. They should be enjoyed by everyone and it is very sad not to have them at the moment."

Totnes town council said an abatement notice could be served if there was excessive noise. "In this case we received a letter of complaint from a young family living about 90 yards from the church, who said they had difficulty sleeping because of the clock striking," said a spokesman.

"The next step would have been to visit the church late at night after the pubs had shut to see if the noise was excessive. However, I understand that the clock has since stopped, so as far as we're concerned, there won't be any further action."

[Izzy Dunne]

the vicar feared the chimes could be breaking European law.

Vicars with spines, please step forward...

[Michael2001]

But a small group of residents - believed to be newcomers - have protested that the chimes stop them sleeping at night.

I wonder what religion those newcomers are?

[swarthyguy]

This is Nuts. I'm surprised. And who are these newcomers?
Financial types from the city?

How could this be against EU law?

[Izzy Dunne]

guaranteed the right to sleep free of noise, light or smell pollution.

Aybody here ever gotten used to sleep in the city?
Sirens.
Jet takeoffs.
Partying neighbors.
You DO get used to it.
And then you move to the country.
The ABSENCE of noise will keep you awake for a while.
But you get used to that too.
Reminds me of the idiots who moved to a cheap house near the airport and then complain about the jet noise.
Except the townsfolk here aren't the ones complaining.
It's the new world order.

[Glutton]

I bet very loud Muslim calls to prayers would never get this sort of treatment.

[Izzy Dunne]

CORRECTION: it IS the townsfolk doing at least SOME of the complaining.
But the fear of the new world order is there, as well.

[marktwain]

It sounds as though the Vicar is trying to push the New World Order, rather than reacting in fear of it.

[shezza]

...the European Court of Human Rights has said people should be guaranteed the right to sleep free of noise, light or smell pollution.

Uh huh. Good luck, then.

[shaggy eel]

,,, I wonder what contingency plans are in place to deal with the sound from rain hitting a roof.

[kaylar]

I wonder if it ever occured to them that forbidding "noise pollution" at night, while allowing the same noises in the day, infringes on the "rights" of night shift workers.

The notion that people have a right to undisturbed sleep seems to be predicated on the idea that everyone works 9-5. There's lots of 3-11 and 11-7 people out there (or however people in the UK split up 24/7 jobs). What about their rights?

Yet another can o' worms the EU chose to open.

[swarthyguy]

Guess since the article dances around who the newcomers are..one must be suspicious.

If its a case where a suburban family moves to a rural area and doesn't like cocks crowing or manure smelling, an article will usually mention the who and the why.

The omission is puzzling unless, of course, you are right.

[MissBaby]

They made us stop ring the bells at our church years ago. Nothing here. Just shows there are idiots in Europe too.

[Arkinsaw]

...the European Court of Human Rights has said people should be guaranteed the right to sleep free of....smell pollution.
Paris is in big trouble.

[nmh]

That's not all churches have to fear. This is mild and just the beginning ... .

[shaggy eel]

,,, Paris or Brussels?

[Robert_Paulson2]

"people should be guaranteed the right to sleep free of noise"


I wonder if this means we can arrest and charge our two week old babies for ruining our sleep? Perhaps we can arrest the IRS for ruining our sleep in mid april too?

I got rights ya know!

[88keys]

"But I have been advised by a lawyer friend that the European Court of Human Rights has said people should be guaranteed the right to sleep free of noise, light or smell pollution.

"I felt therefore I had no alternative but to silence the clock, as technically we could be in breach of the law. I don't know if anyone would have taken us to court, but European law is becoming more important."

Taken another way, and especially in context of the whole story (incomplete as it is!), this statement could maybe be seen as a bit of (admittedly) mild "gauntlet throwing", don't you think?!

Just a thought, maybe wishful on my part...

[Rebelbase]

Cutting the bells off at around 8pm is a courtesy to those who live near the church. I grew up across the street from a church that did it that way, and it was appreciated by the neighborhood.

[Letitring]

WHY did they move there, knowing the church chimed? I think they wanted the church as an issue. Should be forced to leave that town, IMO.