THE decibels are dropping for residents of a Bicester street where antisocial behaviour and loud music sparked more than 70 complaints.

Cherwell District Council secured its first closure order on a house in Market End Way at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday.

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For the next three months, it is a crime for anyone other than the residents to enter the property.

It comes after 14 calls were made to the police about the house and the council received 44 recordings of noise disturbance originating from the property, submitted by users of an app called Noise App, and a further 15 service requests.

Richard Webb, assistant director for regulatory services and community safety, said: “Antisocial behaviour causes distress and upset to its victims. When persistent and really serious behaviour like this occurs, we’re not afraid to take action.

“Neighbours of the property have suffered disturbance since January 2020. They have also shared with us their concerns about breaches of Covid regulations there.

“The nuisance has continued despite months of enforcement work by the council and in defiance of Thames Valley Police, who has been called out to the address 14 times.”

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The order was obtained under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and follows an escalating series of interventions over the past 18 months.

Due to the ongoing seriousness of the behaviour and its impact on the community, the council had served a 48-hour closure notice on the property, but this has now been upgraded by the magistrate to the three-month closure order.

Officers assess noise disturbance based on the time, frequency and type of disturbance. People defying the order will now be guilty of a criminal offence and could be fined, or face prison.

Mr Webb added: “We have secured this order with the full backing of the police. My hope is that it gives the affected neighbours some peace and quiet and the time for the residents of the property to resolve the issues.”

Police closed a house last April in Hudson Street after its occupants refused to follow Covid-19 rules.

To report noise complaints, the Noise App can be downloaded free of charge through Google Play or the App Store.