'Noisy' family of 14 told to keep quiet over Christmas
A Peterborough family of 14 are facing silent nights over Christmas - after being told by Peterborough City Council they have to stay quiet following complaints from neighbours.
A Peterborough family of 14 are facing silent nights over Christmas - after being told by Peterborough City Council they have to stay quiet following complaints from neighbours.The Childerley family, of Oundle Road, Peterborough, were asked to sign an "acceptable behaviour contract" - or ABC - by the city council, or face possible eviction from their six-bedroom house.
The contract came after neighbours claimed the family was making excessive noise. It means the family are not allowed to play loud music after 9pm or in the front of the house; intimidate neighbours or passers-by; allow dogs to enter other people's property; ride "mini motorbikes" in the area, or play football at the front of the property.
The Childerleys accept that it is hard to keep a large family quiet - but they deny the claims about their behaviour. They say they do not know what more they can do to stop complaints.
Parents Julie and Robert Childerley have now put a sign in their front window saying that their children are not allowed friends over, and fear the contract could ruin their family Christmas.
Their 16-year-old son Shaun said: "We can't have any kind of party on Christmas Day, the kids can't play with their toys, we have to sit in silence just to please everybody else. My mum was crying the other night because she is under so much pressure to make sure nobody complains.
"She was even thinking about hiring somewhere out for Christmas Day so the kids have somewhere to play but it's not Christmas if you can't have it at home."
The children living at the house are twins Ben and Nathon (3), daughters Skye (6), Courtney (5), Stevie (8) Maria (14), Kayanne (7) and sons Henry (10), Liam (9), Robert (16), Jamie (18) and Shaun (16).
The city council refused to comment specifically on the Childerley's case, but said: "When there is a problem with anti social behaviour a number of options will be considered, from voluntary contracts to applying to the courts for one of a range of orders or interventions.
"The success of an ABC is entirely dependant upon the willingness of the individual or family to act in accordance with the guidelines."
What do you think about this story?
Email your comment: eteditor@ peterboroughtoday.co.uk or use our online Your Say form: send us a letter now.
-------------------------------
Email to a friend
Print this page - Popular
- Most comments
- Most shared
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Local pages
Looking for a...
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Thursday 18 March 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C - 8 C
Wind Speed: 14 Knots
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C - 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 Knots
Wind direction: North west
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.