Gosh doesn't Richard Bridge take extreme positions. I wouldn't have started this thread is I had know I was going to be describes in the way he us who signed the petition.

I suspect Richard sees life solely from the inside of a court room a place most us can't even afford to use.

The petition is solely about presumption. In my experience every noise complaint is presumed to be about a nuisance by the local authority and most result in some restriction on the activity which can only be rectified by recourse to the courts which for the most part those involved can't afford to do. Restrictions continue to be imposed eating away at the activity until it disappears.

This isn't a problem for noisy pubs, they are usually part of a chain and can go to court, or threaten to go to court and bring the council into line. It is a problem for club/voluntary activities.

In fact I would contend that supporting Richard's position will result in more noisy commercial activities and we will all long for the day when we just had the odd bell ringer, clay pigeon shooter, motor racer and folk singer to worry about.

Perhaps a petition for legal aid for voluntary groups is needed.