Thanks Dennis for your usual reasoned views. If only this were the case everywhere.

It seems to be overlooked that in this case the landlord responsible if the required soundproofing was lacking, for placing this tenant in these these so-called jerry-built flats in the first palce and for issuing the abatement notice - were one and the same council.

Where I have much sympathy with those who are really suffering and feel forced, after making their own attemps to reach a solution, to make a perfectly valid complaint, there are I'm afraid, those who make complaints for reasons other than the ones they state. Often these are the same individuals who are repeatedly complaining at every available opportunity. The same machinery swings into action whether the complaint is valid or not.

Such opportunities for persistent complainers seem to be increasing.