Raucous leaf blowers ‘are a threat to peace’

A campaign group has been set up in Highgate, London, is demanding a change in the law to return calm to the streets and parks of the village.

A group of seven disturbed residents has set its sights on ending the "hateful noise and brutal volume" made by gardeners using their electric version of the traditional rake - a leaf blowing machine.



The Campaign against Leaf-Blowing Machines (Calm) has stopped short of demanding an outright ban - as is the case in France - but they want to prove in law that they are a breach of the peace.

The group also wants the blowers, whose sound they describe as a "hair-dryer played through a public address system", to only be used for five minutes every two hours.

A Camden Council spokeswoman said: "We limit the use of leaf blowers by parks contractors to only blowing leaves not other debris and we do not allow blowers to be used between 12 and 2pm to allow people to eat their lunch in peace."