THOUSANDS of pounds might be spent tackling noisy neighbours in north Durham.
Last year, noise complaints in Derwentside soared from 180 to 289 and the district council's environmental services division is urging authority bosses to spend £8,400 on replacement monitoring equipment.
Peter Reynolds, the council's director of environmental services, said: "The existing equipment is more than five years old and has now become obsolete. Maintenance costs are high and spare parts are unavailable.
"Due to the difficulties in maintaining the current equipment, the acquisition of noise analysis equipment has become both urgent and essential."
Mr Reynolds is also asking for £12,000 to buy two global positioning systems.
The satellite technology would measure council-owned land in the district to form the basis of land valuation and help with tenders for grass-cutting contracts.
The council's executive will make a decision when it meets in Consett Civic Centre on Monday, at 4.30pm.
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