COMPLAINTS about noise nuisance in York have rocketed for the third year running, with the smoking ban playing a major part in the rise.

A new report to go before City of York councillors shows the number of objections has risen by nearly a quarter in the past year.

The number of official abatement orders has also soared, rising from 16 in 2005/06 to 114 in 2006/07 - an increase of 600 per cent.

But the city's neighbourhood services boss, Andrew Waller is bracing himself for a battle to maintain the noise patrol service.

Three years of funding for the project runs out next spring, and Coun Waller is preparing to lobby the Government to help finance it into the future.

If those attempts fail, the council will have to find £88,000 from its own finances to maintain the service.

Coun Waller said: "I believe this money should be included in the Government grant, but if it is not the shortfall needs to be made up, and we are determined to keep this in the budget."

He said the Government's licensing reform had led to a surge in complaints, and they should help fund the noise patrols made necessary as a result.

He added: "I am determined that we retain this service. I have met a lot of residents who have used it and appreciate it and have had release from a problem, and I feel that residents deserve that."

The nationwide ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces has accentuated the problem.

Complaints about noise from licensed premises had already soared following the relaxation of drinking laws two years ago.

But the report says: "The introduction of smoke-free legislation has contributed to a further increase in noise complaints (against) customers congregating outside the premises to smoke.

"Approximately 20 additional complaints were received in the first two months of the ban."

The council's noise patrol was launched last year with the help of a £161,000 Government grant.


How complaints have added up

The report to councillors says there were 1,196 noise complaints to the council in 2004/05; 1,287 in 2005/06; and 2,246 in 2006/07.

From April 1 to September 10 this year, there were 1,207 - an increase of 22 per cent on the same period last year.

If the increase is maintained, the 2007/08 tally will be more than 2,700.

Last December, The Press revealed how licensing reform had led to a rapid upsurge in the number of complaints, which doubled between the calendar years 2005 and 2006.