Cockerels 'not a noise nuisance'

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Two cockerels at the centre of a neighbourhood feud are not a "nuisance", a court has heard.

Inverbervie resident, Alex Panayotti, wants to keep the pet birds, Rooster and Gobi, for his disabled daughter.

But after complaints from two neighbours, Aberdeenshire Council said they had to go.

However, Mr Panayotti is appealing the decision and at Stonehaven Sheriff Court on Friday a noise expert said the birds were not a nuisance.

Nick Smith had taken various noise level readings at the property on 4 November, this year.

From his findings, Mr Smith believes the noise emitted by the birds during the day and night does not constitute a breach of Asbo laws against noise nuisance.

Mr Smith said: "Just because a noise is annoying, it doesn't make it a statutory nuisance. Because people can become sensitised to a noise they will hear it more often.

"Standards have been introduced to take out any subjectivity, and it doesn't matter if it is a goat, a seagull, a car revving or traffic noise, they can all be measured on the same basis. It's a level playing field."

Mr Smith said he had recorded "five minute experiences" to calculate the decibel level of the crowing cockerels against background noise.

He said his results revealed that it was "unlikely" the birds were being a statutory nuisance to Mr Panayotti's neighbours.

The case is due to continue early next year.