A LATE-NIGHT noise complaints service is set to be axed under public sector spending cuts.

Basildon Council is considering scrapping its out-of-hours noise monitoring scheme because it is not cost-effective.

The decision would also mean the service is withdrawn from Castle Point, which is covered by the Basildon team as part of a contract with Castle Point Council.

The scheme sees officers with decibel meters responding to noise complaints, varying from private parties to rowdy bars and pubs.

They also check noise levels at pubs and clubs on Saturday nights in the winter and Fridays and Saturdays in the summer.

Evidence obtained can be used in prosecutions.

Basildon Council said no final decision had been taken on continuing the scheme.

A spokesman said: “As a result of the need to make savings, this area of service will be considered, along with many others.

“However, no decisions have been made to stop the service or end our joint-working arrangement with Castle Point.”

However, Godfrey Isaacs, Castle Point councillor responsible for safer communities, said he expected the service to be discontinued from the beginning of April.

He added: “With the cuts and the current financial climate, we can’t afford to run it.

“We will stop it when Basildon pulls the plug and I expect that to be early April.”

The scheme has had successes, with noise evidence obtained by the team used in a recent licensing ruling against Charley’s Bar, in Long Road, Canvey.

The pub was forced to curtail its opening hours.

Mr Isaacs estimated it costs upwards of £40,000 per year to run the scheme.

But he said officers were getting as few as two calls a month.

He added: “It’s not cost-effective to have people sitting around not doing anything. It would be a big loss, but unfortunately that’s the financial reality.

“If we find we receive a lot of calls in future, perhaps it is something we can look at restoring, in partnership with other authorities like Southend and Rochford.”