Environment cases Fisher 1
R (on the application of Fisher) v Durham County Council
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Keywords: noise abatement notice – judicial review – disability discrimination
Statute reference: Environmental Protection Act 1990
The Facts
Ms F, a 67 year old retired primary school teacher, lived alone in a privately rented mid-terrace house in County Durham under an assured shorthold tenancy. She suffered from a neurological disorder which caused her to make involuntary sound and to scream and shout words and sentences loudly, often at night. This caused her neighbours serious distress and prevented the letting of an adjacent property. The local authority served a noise abatement notice on her under Section 80(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, requiring her to stop making the sounds, following a number of different approaches.
Ms F applied for judicial review to quash the noise abatement notice on the basis that she could not control the noises which she made. On her behalf it was argued that the notice was discriminatory. It was unfavourable treatment by reason of her disability, in breach of sections 15 and 29 of the Equality Act 2010. Further, it was argued that the notice was in breach of the local authority’s public sector equality duty (PSED) and Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
As a preliminary issue, the High Court dealt with the issue of whether Ms F could apply for judicial review, because there was a statutory right of appeal to magistrates against the notice under section 80. The court found that there was a right to apply for judicial review. An appeal under section 80 would result in delay which would be in no-one’s interests. No live evidence was required in judicial review proceedings, there were no significant disputes of fact. Also, it was not clear whether the discrimination issues could be dealt with under a section 80 appeal.
Decision
In relation to disability discrimination and its relationship with noise abatement notices, the court refused the application and found the following:
· Ms F was disabled. The noises which she made were a consequence of her disability. The service of the noise abatement notice amounted to unfavourable treatment. However, it was not unlawful because it was a proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aim of abating a statutory nuisance.
· The protection of the health and amenity of neighbours and the interests of property owners justified a modest limitation of Ms F’s rights as to how she lived in her home.
· That aim justified the restriction of Ms F’s fundamental rights as to her conduct in her own home. The service of the notice was a necessary precondition for obtaining an injunction.
· There was no less drastic measure which could have been taken. The local authority had served a community protection warning, had sought medical evidence and advice on soundproofing and had offered to discuss rehousing with Ms F.
· Ms F had disclosed her medical records but had otherwise failed to meaningfully engage with the Council.
· Serving the notice was a last resort which struck a fair balance between Ms F’s rights and the interests of the local community.
· The Council had stated that criminal proceedings were unlikely. The notice would therefore have had little impact on Ms F.
· The Council had complied with its PSED. Although it had not explicitly carried out a PSED assessment, it had in substance done so. It had taken account of Ms F’s disability. The duty did not require it to raise Ms F’s wishes against neighbours’ right to live in peace. The aim of serving the notice was to find an acceptable solution and to reduce the chances of Ms F being victimised or harassed.
· There was no breach of Article 14 of the European Convention (prohibition of discrimination) because the service of the notice had been proportionate and pursued a legitimate aim.
· The service of the notice had been neither absurd nor irrational. The local authority knew that Ms F would be unable to comply with it but there were valid reasons for the service.
Comment
“Noise” may be defined as any unwanted sound. Above a certain level it can be hazardous to health. It has been reported that most complaints about environmental pollution made to local authorities and the Environment Agency relate to noise.
Nuisance, in English common law, is defined, in summary, as an unlawful interference with a person’s use or enjoyment of land. Whether noise can be classifies as a nuisance depends on a number of factors including its level and frequency.
Local authorities are under a duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with statutory nuisances. Statutory nuisance means, in outline, something which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance.
A local authority has power, under section 80 of the Act of 1990 to serve a noise abatement notice if it is satisfied that noise amounts to a statutory nuisance. The notice may include a requirement that the noise ceases or is limited to specific times. The person upon whom the notice is served can appeal within 21 days. Failure to comply with an abatement notice without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. Alternatively, a local authority may apply to a civil court for an injunction to enforce the notice.
The Fisher case considered the relationship between statutory nuisance caused by noise, disability discrimination, the public sector equality duty (PSED) and human rights. The PSED is set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. In summary, it states that a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and to advance equality of opportunity. In the Fisher case, the court stated that this did not require the Council to elevate Ms F’s wishes above her neighbours’ right to live in peace.
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