Part 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 obliges local authorities to deal with statutory nuisances. This includes periodically inspecting the District for statutory nuisances and to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to investigate any complaints made by persons living or working within the area.
Where we are satisfied that a statutory nuisance exists, or is likely to occur or recur, then we are required to take action to stop that nuisance. This is usually by serving an abatement notice. However, there is a best practical means defence for most industrial, trade or business premises and the Council must have regard to this before taking any formal action. This means that practices which are considered to be the "industry norm" are not normally actionable