A MAN has been fined after ignoring multiple warnings about the noise from his cockerels keeping neighbours up at night.

Christopher Wise, 38, of Betws Ifan, had been issued with a noise abatement notice relating to the noise of the cockerels at night.

Wise had been advised by Ceredigion council officers to relocate the birds away from the boundary with neighbouring properties and ensuring that the buildings were suitably adapted to lower the levels of sound coming from them.

Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court said that Wise repeatedly ignored these notices and also ignored warnings about not getting any more cockerels.

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Ceredigion Public Protection Officers visited neighbouring properties in the early hours of the morning in October, and confirmed that noise from the cockerels could be heard clearly within the bedrooms of neighbouring properties with closed windows. It was noted that, at times, the crowing was so regular there was almost no break in the noise.

The officers found there was sufficient evidence to prove that the abatement notice was not being complied with.

Wise pleaded guilty to two breaches of the notice, served under Section 80 of The Environmental Protection Act 1990 by Ceredigion County Council Public Protection Officers.

The chair of Magistrates told Wise: “This order, you must take it seriously. You’ve been given a lot of advice by the Council. It isn’t acceptable and you must do something about it.”

Councillor Mathew Vaux, Ceredigion’s cabinet member for public protection, said: “This conviction shows that the court will support our efforts in ensuring our residents can live peacefully in their own homes.

“This individual had previously been warned about the noise levels and the distress that he was causing to other residents but ignored them.”

Wise was fined £240, and was ordered to pay a £96 surcharge and £150 in costs.