The notoriously happy clappy white garment churches have been having a hard time keeping in line with the noise pollution requirements in London as councils (local authority) are inundated with residents complaints on the noise these churches make especially during the early hours of Saturday.
The latest church to fall short of the noise level requirement is Celestial Church of Christ, Seventh Year Parish in Grays, Essex. The resident pastor, Akinseye Iyun, has been fined £230 for regularly holding ‘unbearably’ loud sermons until 4.00 a.m. According to the petition, the pastor infuriated neighbours with the noise up to four times a week.
Local residents complained to the council about loud drumming and chanting but the pastor claimed the church was sound-proofed. However, after investigation and following several ignored warnings from Thurrock Borough Council, Iyunwas charged and prosecuted on May 25th 2016 at Basildon Magistrates’ court.
Iyun, 38, of Brunel Close, Tilbury, admitted that as the Pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ in Bridge Road, Grays, he was in breach of noise abatement notice.
The court heard how Iyun and the church had been given noise nuisance advice before a noise abatement notice was served in the early hours of 31 January, 2015. It came following the witnessing of a statutory noise nuisance by Thurrock Council Environmental protection officers.
The court was told most of the council’s advice visits were made during the weekend and out of hours, especially during last summer and a breach of the notice was witnessed in October 2015.
In November, a breach of notice letter was hand-delivered to the church, following further visits and numerous residents’ complaints about loud amplified music, particularly drumming and chanting over a speaker system.
Though Iyun was interviewed under caution in December, the noise and complaints continued.
Gavin Dennett, Thurrock Council’s environmental health and trading standards manager, said: “Our environmental protection officers are prepared for any further breaches of notice and will apply for a warrant and forfeiture of sound equipment if the noise nuisance is witnessed again.
“The peace and tranquillity of local people was being disturbed on a regular basis and this shows the council will act as and when necessary.
“The magistrates said, of course, he and his church were entitled to celebrate, but not in a way that disregards the local community and certainly not in breach of the noise abatement notice.
“As leader of the church, he should make sensible arrangements that people can rest and enjoy their homes in the way he and his congregation would like to enjoy their church.”
Iyun was fined £230 with a £23 victim surcharge and Thurrock Council was awarded full costs of £988.50, totalling £1,241.50.
Magistrates also considered the seizure of the church’s noise-making equipments but decided against it. However, Iyun was warned that should he and the church be recalled to the court for noise nuisance, the matter would be taken more seriously.

http://lailamedia.com/white-garment-church-fined-230-in-uk-for-noise-pollution/