South London church wins battle with council over noise

A church in south London has won its legal battle against Lambeth Council after being handed a noise abatement notice.

The 600-member All Nations Centre was handed the notice in September after receiving complaints from several local residents. The notice meant the church would have faced prosecution if it amplified its music or sermons.

Church leaders were angry that the notice had been issued without any warning or possibility to discuss the complaints, contrary to council guidelines and in spite of a public meeting that had been scheduled with local residents for October on the issue of the noise. The church leaders had complained that the notice was more an attack on the church’s faith, than a genuine concern about the level of noise.

They took the council to court to appeal the notice against them. It was withdrawn at the last minute earlier in the week, according to their legal advisers at the Christian Legal Centre.

The church’s pastor, Abraham Sackey, said: “The church believes that the council’s withdrawal is an attempt to conceal what happened and which has been ongoing for some time, not only in Lambeth but nationally.

“The leaders of the church maintained from the very outset that the notice had nothing to do with noise but rather was further evidence of the ongoing campaign of religious hatred and intimidation against evangelical Christians.”

Onn Sein Kon, Case Manager at the Christian Legal Centre, said: “Regrettably, our case-load is increasing with councils issuing noise abatement notices as a means of curtailing or closing churches in London.

“Success in this case sends out a clear message that this method will not work. These churches are vibrant and growing and play a critical part in their communities.”