From personal experience and conversations with others in and around Gloucestershire, it seems that Tewkesbury Borough Council is not particularly accommodating to neurodivergent individuals or the challenges they face. This is especially apparent when it comes to sensitivity to noise and the very real consequences it has on autistic people and others with sensory processing differences.
The Reality of Noise Sensitivity and Meltdowns
For many neurodivergent individuals, noise isn’t just an annoyance—it can be overwhelming, painful, and even debilitating. Loud bass, repetitive sounds, and environmental noise that neurotypical people may easily ignore can trigger extreme distress. This can lead to sensory overload, headaches, anxiety, and, in some cases, full-blown meltdowns.
A meltdown isn’t a tantrum or a choice; it’s an involuntary response to extreme stress, often caused by external factors like noise pollution. It’s something councils and authorities should recognize as a legitimate issue, requiring reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Unfortunately, in my experience, Tewkesbury Borough Council does not seem to acknowledge or accommodate this.
How Tewkesbury Borough Council Responds
When I raised concerns about noise issues affecting my well-being, the response from the council was dismissive. Instead of addressing the root cause—the unreasonable noise levels coming from a neighbor—the focus was placed on my reactions to the distress it caused. Rather than making reasonable adjustments or intervening fairly, the council instead chose to issue warnings and restrictions against me and my partner, completely ignoring the impact of our neurodivergence.
In an effort to escape this situation, I pursued a Section 38 referral under the Housing (Scotland) Act, which allows for rehousing due to risk or hardship. However, this was refused on the grounds of insufficient evidence of the neighbor’s noise levels, once again failing to take into account how excessive noise affects neurodivergent individuals. Instead of acknowledging the clear and documented effects of sensory overload, the focus was on whether the noise was objectively “loud enough” rather than how it impacted my health and ability to function.
Hiding Behind the ‘Reasonable Person’ Standard
One of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with Tewkesbury Borough Council has been their reliance on the “reasonable person” standard—an arbitrary benchmark based on what an average neurotypical person would perceive as disruptive or distressing. By doing so, the council ignores the fact that neurodivergent individuals experience the world differently, particularly in relation to sensory stimuli.
Noise levels that may not bother the “average person” can cause severe distress, migraines, meltdowns, and long-term anxiety for autistic individuals. Instead of acknowledging this and making accommodations, the council hides behind outdated legal standards that fail to account for the diverse needs of residents. This approach effectively erases neurodivergent experiences, treating them as irrelevant rather than valid concerns requiring support and reasonable adjustments.
I am not alone in this experience. Others in Gloucestershire have shared similar frustrations—feeling unheard, being treated as the problem rather than the victim, and facing threats of legal action instead of support. Instead of making allowances for the increased difficulties neurodivergent people face, Tewkesbury Borough Council appears to penalize them for struggling in an already difficult situation.
A Call for Change
Councils have a duty to support all residents, including those who are neurodivergent. That means:
- Recognizing sensory sensitivities as a legitimate concern, not just an inconvenience.
- Training staff to understand neurodivergence and how environmental factors like noise affect people differently.
- Handling complaints fairly and addressing the cause of distress, rather than targeting the person affected by it.
- Moving away from the outdated “reasonable person” standard and instead assessing cases with an understanding of neurodivergent needs.
- Providing reasonable adjustments to ensure that neurodivergent individuals can live comfortably without unnecessary stress.
Tewkesbury Borough Council, like all local authorities, has a responsibility to treat neurodivergent people fairly. But right now, it feels like they are doing the opposite. Until they acknowledge the impact their actions—or inactions—have, neurodivergent individuals in Tewkesbury will continue to suffer unnecessary stress, isolation, and unfair treatment.
If you have had a similar experience with the council, I encourage you to speak up. The more people who raise awareness, the harder it becomes for them to ignore. It’s time for Tewkesbury Borough Council to do better.
Disclaimer:
This post reflects personal experiences and opinions. It is intended to highlight issues faced by neurodivergent individuals and encourage discussion, not to make definitive claims about Tewkesbury Borough Council’s policies or actions.
Hashtags:
#TewkesburyBoroughCouncil #Neurodiversity #AutismAwareness #SensorySensitivity #DisabilityRights #EqualityAct #MentalHealthMatters #AccessibilityForAll #InvisibleDisabilities #StopTheStigma #NoiseSensitivity #NeurodivergentSupport #HousingRights #LocalGovernment #FairTreatmentNow
.