A woman whose cockerel is so noisy it was handed an ASBO could risk her pet being seized by police – despite hundreds of people rallying in support of him.
Sue Farthing, 58, said she was threatened with a Community Protection Notice by South Norfolk Council over her crowing rooster Colonel.
He is now being locked away in his coop overnight and Ms Farthing has even blacked out the windows to help prevent his cock-a-doodle-doos.
Artist Ms Farthing does not know who the complaining neighbour is.
But the 58-year-old has blasted the incident as ‘insanity’, claiming Colonel only crows once in the morning and twice during the daytime.
The Community Protection Notice of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act warning gives Ms Farthing a week to reduce the noise – otherwise police could seize Colonel.
The artist said the incident showed how councils were ‘intent’ on destroying countryside life to appease city folk.
‘It’s quite upsetting. I’m a law-abiding citizen and to have an ASBO threatened against me and Colonel is insanity,’ she said.
Sue Farthing, 58 (pictured with Colonel) said the incident was ‘insanity’
Colonel, the cockerel handed an ASBO who could be seized by police following noise complaints
‘It’s out of proportion for the situation.
‘It sets a bad precedent for the future of the countryside. The council seem intent on destroying this way of life.
‘Colonel and my chickens are my pets. This is not for farming purposes or financial gain.’
Ms Farthing moved to Aldeby, a small Norfolk village with a population of just 400 people, three years ago.
She said the landscape is alive with muntjac, owls and cows.
The civil parish is less than three miles away from the home of ITV star Janet Street Porter.
Ms Farthing began keeping chickens as pets 18 months ago after rescuing one – but didn’t realise Colonel was a cockerel until he began crowing a few months later.
She decided to keep him to keep her seven hens in order and said he is a ‘lovely character’.
Ms Farthing began keeping chickens as pets 18 months ago. She said Colonel is a ‘lovely character’
More than 900 people have signed a petition calling on the council to ‘stop the disproportionate pursuit of Colonel (pictured) in the name of ‘common sense
The 58-year-old said: ‘I thought he was a good addition to the group and vital to protect them from predators such as foxes.
‘He did produce some young chicks which I let hatch.
‘I had a couple more cockerels and I decided to rehome them as they were crowing a lot.
‘In August last year, I got a knock on the door from a council officer who said there had been a complaint against Colonel and his noise was affecting the complainant’s mental health.’
South Norfolk Council conducted an investigation where Colonel’s cock-a-doodle-doos were monitored after the anonymous neighbour complained.
Ms Farthing was told Colonel needed to be kept quiet until after 8am so she began locking him away in the coop overnight and blacked out the windows.
She said: ‘I found it really improved the situation but cockerels do have a natural body clock so he can crow before sunrise.
‘It only lasts a few minutes and then we maybe hear one or two later in the day.
‘I did what I could with the limited resources and funds for what I had at the time.’
But last week she received another letter, threatening her with a Community Protection Order following further complaints – and that the police could seize Colonel and destroy him.
Ms Farthing is now working on a ‘bunker’ to help deaden the noise Colonel makes but said she would appeal to the council for more time to soundproof the coop.
Hundreds of locals have rallied behind Ms Farthing calling on the council to halt its action against Colonel.
More than 900 people have signed a petition demanding the ‘disproportionate pursuit of a single cockerel’ be stopped in the name of ‘common sense’ in Aldeby, Norfolk.
Many of the signatories are locals who are keen to protect the area’s ‘rural’ identity.
The petition, launched six days ago, reads: ‘We, the undersigned residents of Aldeby and the wider South Norfolk area, call on [the] council to cease the disproportionate investigation and enforcement action against a resident in the rural hamlet of Aldeby over infrequent crowing from a single cockerel.
‘Aldeby is a small, peaceful countryside hamlet where natural sounds—cows mooing, owls hooting, muntjac deer calling, birds singing, and occasional farm animals—are an accepted and cherished part of daily life.
‘In such a setting, the rare and brief crowing of one cockerel (reported as only twice in a day on recent occasions, and none at all some mornings) cannot reasonably be classified as a statutory nuisance warranting formal council intervention, especially when measured against the everyday soundscape of rural Norfolk.
‘Despite this context, a Community Protection Officer has visited the property and hand-delivered formal correspondence;
‘Council resources, including staff time and taxpayer funding, have been allocated to monitor and pursue this isolated complaint;
‘Local residents overwhelmingly support the keeper of the cockerel and view the matter as an absurd misuse of limited council capacity.
‘Meanwhile, the council continues to face widespread public criticism for delays and shortcomings in addressing far more pressing community priorities, including: timely repair of potholes on local roads, reliable bin collections, effective maintenance of drainage systems to prevent flooding [and] other essential services that directly impact residents’ safety and quality of life.
‘We believe council resources should be focused on these significant issues rather than pursuing minor, infrequent rural noises that are inherent to countryside living.’
A South Norfolk Council spokesperson previously said: ‘We engaged early with the owner of the cockerel and gave advice about how to reduce the impact of noise from crowing on surrounding neighbours.
‘Unfortunately, further complaints were received, and evidence provided which demonstrates that crowing coinciding with daybreak can be heard very clearly within the complainant’s home.’
The council has been contacted for further comment.
