Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and in accordance with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Code of Practice, the use of bird scarers and shooting ranges must be conducted responsibly and in a manner that minimises disturbance to the local environment and community. The guidance clearly states that bird scarers should only be used where absolutely necessary and should not sound more than four times per hour. Furthermore, noise from both bird scarers and shooting ranges must not rise to the level of a statutory nuisance, nor interfere with the public's enjoyment of their homes and the surrounding natural environment.

In Brighton & Hove, particularly in areas adjacent to the Polowood Shooting Range and surrounding farmland, the countryside is persistently disturbed by frequent and extremely loud bangs from both bird scarers and shooting activities. These noises are often heard multiple times per minute over a vast area of our local countryside, well beyond what could be considered reasonable or compliant with existing guidelines.

The impact of this constant noise pollution is significant. It causes considerable distress to pets—particularly dogs—and their owners, and it inevitably disrupts local wildlife. Dogs are developing sound phobias as a result of this disturbance and this negatively impacts their quality of life and that of their owners. 

It is our view that the current use of bird scarers and the level of shooting activity in the region exceeds what is appropriate and fails to meet the standards of good conduct expected by environmental regulations and agricultural best practices.

We therefore call upon the relevant authorities to investigate these disturbances and introduce stronger legislative measures to monitor, control, and reduce the frequency and volume of noise generated by bird scarers and shooting ranges in the Brighton & Hove area. This action is necessary to protect the wellbeing of residents, animals, and the natural environment from ongoing statutory nuisance.