1. Keep ringing times and durations the same each week.

2. Come to local agreements with Vicar and nearby residents about reasonable ringing times and read the Central Council's 'Guidelines on the Acceptability of Church Bell-Ringing' guidance document.

· CHURCHES WITH NEARBY RESIDENTS:

3. Cut down duration of ringing before and/or after weddings if several weddings are happening on the same day.

4. Restrict other ringing events (Quarter-Peals, Peals, competitions, visiting days, 'special occasions') to a reasonable number of times a year where these can not take the place of normal practice/service/wedding ringing. Give advance notice to nearby residents of 'Special' ringing times or changes in regular ringing times by using notices, local radio, handbills or newspaper advertisements.

5. Evening Practices/Events should end at a reasonable time (normally 9.30pm at the latest).

6. Consider other steps to control sound if necessary (e.g. closing louvres). See the Central Council's 'Sound Management' Booklet for advice.

· IF YOUR TOWER RECEIVES COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOISE NUISANCE

7. Deal with them promptly, sympathetically, courteously and reasonably but, before responding get advice from your local complaints adviser, a responsible local bell-ringer with experience in dealing with noise complaints or from the Central Ringing Council (see 'Dealing with complaints about bells' leaflet). Also, the Ringing World has a telephone helpline number (01483 569535).

8. To avoid confusion appoint one person to deal with all complaints.

9. If possible come to an informal agreement with any person making a complaint, but make very sure that you can stick to that agreement and that all users of the bells are aware of the situation.

· ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS (EHO's)

10. EHO's have powers under the Environmental Protection Act (1990) to severely restrict or even prohibit bell-ringing if it causes a statutory noise nuisance. All EHO's will try to deal with noise complaints informally by local agreement where possible, so co-operation is a good idea.

11. If an EHO becomes involved in allegations of noise nuisance about ringing at your tower review any local agreements about ringing times and durations and ensure you hold strictly to them because an EHO may be outside listening to you!

November 2000