With the Christmas and New Year party season upon us, the potential for noise complaints is heightened.

But should there be a problem, Bradford’s neighbourhood mediation service – the largest of its type in the country – is on hand to deal with it.

The number of cases referred to Community Accord is rising every year. Last year there were 105, and this year the service is on course to have handled around 250 complaints – a rise of about 150 per cent. Of these, more than half relate to noise.

“The number of cases is increasing and we have had to take on more volunteer mediators to help with that,” says managing director Olau Thomassen. The increase, he stresses, does not mean that the number of conflicts across the district is rising dramatically, but that more people are aware of the service.

And this year, for the first time, the team of staff and 18 volunteers has been working in conjunction with Bradford Council which is trialling a new approach to resolving noise-related issues by putting people in touch with them. “This is proving very successful,” says Olau.

“We have also been around longer and people now know what we do. We have a good reputation and other agencies feel comfortable referring cases to us.

“Individuals may also feel we are the right route to take and turn to us rather than use a solicitor or go to the police.” Referrals also come from the police and other agencies.

Fifty-five per cent of complaints tackled by the team are noise-related. “We live incredibly close to each other and it is easy to affect each other even if you don’t have any malicious intent,” says Olau. “You may share poorly-insulated walls with a neighbour, and noise such as someone walking around can be annoying.

“People live different lifestyles – someone may work nights and live next door to others who don’t, then there are those who like to stay up late on a night and play music living next door to people who don’t.”

Noise-related complaints can be broken down into a variety of causes, the main ones being loud music and barking dogs.

“Some people are living next door to a property at which the animal is kept indoors while the owner is out at work. The dog is not happy and lets out its frustrations by barking.”

Hedges, fences and trees are another source of disagreement, making up six per cent of complaints this year. “People may feel that a particular tree or hedge is not aesthetically pleasing to look at, that it blocks out sunlight, or has the potential to damage their property.

“Householders may also disagree over where their boundary lies, or perhaps a neighbour has built on what they believe is their land,” says Olau.

Traffic and parking problems account for five per cent of calls. “Someone may apply for a disabled space outside their home to which a neighbour objects, for one reason or another. Other disputes can arise when a household has two cars and space for on-street parking is limited.

Other issues include disturbance by youths and children, and cases of harassment and intimidation.

Community Accord was set up within Bradford Council following the 2001 riots to help resolve conflict. In 2004, it became an independent, not-for-profit company.

“Initially, we do a lot of work over the phone to find out what the issues are,” says Olau. “If people don’t feel comfortable with that, we will visit them, and we bring residents together either here in our office or at a mutually-agreed venue.” An agreement is reached in 90 per cent of cases.

Ruth Lees, Bradford Council’s principal environmental health manager, says the partnership with Community Accord is working very well.

“Cases Thomaussenant. Their trained staff then discuss the problems and look at whether they can resolve it through mediation or whether it needs to go down a formal, legal route.”

She adds: “It is hoped that this early intervention will help to prevent the escalation of a problem into a neighbourhood dispute which can have a long-term impact.

“The trial project has yet to be fully evaluated but the early indications are that the involvement of Community Accord at an early stage is proving a success, in many instances without the need for further involvement from environmental protection officers.”

Community Accord can be contacted on (01274) 437452.