Man wins £1k payout after play area noise complaint

A RESIDENT has received a payout of more than £1,000 after complaining about noise from his local play area.

- BRYANA FRANCIS

The man, from Llandaff North, Cardiff, complained to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales after he felt his complaints had been ignored by Cardiff council, saying the noise from a children’s play area in nearby Hailey Park was having a “substantial” impact on his life.

When the council then announced in January that it would have to remove the popular children’s play area, residents were outraged at the prospect of children being left with no free activities in the area.

The council has since said it is maintaining the park's existing play facilities until alternative provision is in place and has secured funding to develop these plans.

The ombudsman told the council to pay the complainant £300 for the inconvenience and, if it was not resolved within eight weeks, he would be paid £75 a week. Since March, he has, therefore, received £900, in addition to the initial £300 lump sum.