Jingle hell for residents as church is slapped with fine

A CHURCH near Madrid has been fined €16,000 after municipal technicians confirmed that the ringing of its bells exceeded the permitted noise levels.

The Our Lady of the Assumption Church, which is located in Mostoles, a dormitory town to the southwest of Madrid, came under fire after residents began to complain that the noise created by the bells was disturbing them. 

Upon inspection, the technicians determined that the bells were nearly 30 decibels above the permitted rate, which is set at 55.

Town planning spokesman Eduardo Gutierrez indicated that “the town council had to act” after receiving the complaints, and that the discovery of the violation left the council with no choice but to come down hard on the church.

Meanwhile, Parish priest Ignacio Torres expressed disappointment, pointing out that the bells have been rung in the town for many years, and that typically this has only been done at noon, before evening Mass, and during special fiestas. The PP party backed up Torres and argued that the council was persecuting the church.