A CHURCH at the centre of a dispute over the noise from lengthy bell ringing sessions has said it will not make any changes to the Sunday afternoon routine.

Richard Smith

A CHURCH at the centre of a dispute over the noise from lengthy bell ringing sessions has said it will not make any changes to the Sunday afternoon routine.

The parochial church council (PCC) at Aldeburgh parish church made the decision after being inundated with worldwide support for the ringing of bells.

Complaints had been made by up to 20 people, some of whom live very close to the church, about three-hour peals being rung on Sunday afternoons in June and July. They said the noise prevented them enjoying their gardens in the summer - they said they had no complaint about bell ringing on other occasions.

The matter was referred to the environmental health officers at Suffolk Coastal District Council, who ruled there was no noise nuisance. The PCC has now reviewed the matter and has decided not to make changes.

The objectors are now assessing if there any other ways in which they can silence the three-hour ringing sessions or have them moved to a different time.

Nigel Hartley, vicar of Aldeburgh, received 300 e-mails expressing support for the bell ringers. Two petitions were also signed by hundreds of supporters.

He said: “The PCC at its meeting expressed its gratitude for the enormous and widespread public support it had received from this country and all over the world.

“In view of this and the welcome decision by Suffolk Coastal District Council, the PCC has concluded that the current pattern, established for at least the last 30 years, of making peal attempts on the second Sunday of each month apart from August should continue unchanged.

“The PCC expressed its concern for those who had expressed a contrary view and the vicar and others intend to continue efforts to offer pastoral care and to explain the church's historic position in respect of bell ringing.”

Mr Hartley added: “The PCC has every reason to hope that Suffolk Coastal District Council's decision means that there will be no further action either now or in the future and that the principle that church bells do not constitute a noise nuisance is established once and for all. The PCC intends to seek this assurance.”