Noise Annoys

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Red Squirrel
Red Squirrel
15 Jun
8:14am, 15 Jun 2024
23,973 posts
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Red Squirrel
The council are officially rubbish.

A second device has been put next to the one pointing at my window - one for fridges and one for freezers. You couldn’t make it up. Businesses are meant to carry out noise research before they do anything like this.

The council are not enforcing anything, checking noise levels or even seem to understand basic procedures. We’ve suggested they put in a noise monitoring device. My housemate saw some men finishing the installation of the second device and got up on the roof to join them. They both measured dB at 70! 40 is the legal max. My housemate got them to tighten up some screws, so at least the original device didn’t rattle. He said to me “What a cock-up - you complain about one device and they put another one next to it.”. There seems to be no clear communication between the council and the owner.
Weath
Weath
15 Jun
1:44pm, 15 Jun 2024
1,160 posts
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Weath
"They both measured dB at 70! 40 is the legal max"

I am not sure where you are getting this 40dB(A) figure from but it seems to be a peculiar figure and appears to be incorrect.

If we are specifically speaking about noise at night from a licensed premise then the Noise Act 1996 can be considered (this is in addition to the noise being merely investigated as a statutory nuisance under The Environmental Protection Act 1990 - where there is NO defined dB at all) .

The Noise Act considers permitted night time noise (11pm and 7am) as effectively being:
34 dBA (decibels adjusted) if the underlying level of noise is no more than 24 dBA
10 dBA above the underlying level of noise if this is more than 24 dBA

For some context, 24 dBA is particularly quiet - almost a whisper- and 65 is considered to be around normal conversational level. You therefore don't need a particularly high starting background level to hit the measured 70dBA.

See for a summary: gov.uk
Red Squirrel
Red Squirrel
15 Jun
8:18pm, 15 Jun 2024
23,974 posts
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Red Squirrel
Thanks Weath - that’s useful. I think we found the 40 when we were originally trying to work out if the noise would be considered too high by the powers that be. We looked on a few websites that dealt with noise issues - we were scrabbling around in the dark really. The council worker has not discussed any of the points at the link with us, only remarking that it’s noisy when they come round to the house.

I find it strange that commercial businesses are able to install fridge and freezer control units (or whatever they’re called, but that’s what they’re for) without checking noise levels with respect to neighbours. We have a small side passage created by a shared high wall and kitchen and bathroom our side which funnels the sound straight to my bedroom window and to a lesser extent, to my housemate’s.
Red Squirrel
Red Squirrel
2 Jul
9:22pm, 2 Jul 2024
24,047 posts
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Red Squirrel
Well the noise continues, but I’m moving house in August to the Scottish highlands. I shouldn’t be able to hear it from there! :) Roberto, a friend of my friend the owner, is moving into my rooms. I hope he isn’t too bothered by it.

In the meantime, my poor loely neighbour at No 5 is experiencing issues, especially as her grandkids stay with her. She hears our noise and extra from a contraption at the back of the pizza and flatbread place that backs on to hers. She said she had to move the kids around the house the other night as they were so disturbed by it. Lovely neighbour is also moving, luckily, to a neighbouring area. I guess it’s not going to our problem any more, but a shame it couldn’t be resolved for others.

On a positive note, one of the conscientious new business owners, Mr Shah, was really helpful and got his staff up on the roof to investigate and take pictures/videos. It wasn’t even his problem, but he was keen to help and foster good relations with resident neighbours. Nice that someone cares. He gave my housemate and I free food when we popped in to see him.

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About This Thread

Maintained by Red Squirrel
Hey good peeps of Fetch - can you help me (and housemate-owner) where fruitless searches of t’internet have not?

We live in a house with small back garden backing and siding on roads with shops and takeaways. Recently a new take-away has opened and another one re-opened. If you go into the back garden any time of day or night, it sounds like a wind tunnel. I’ve had to move from my back bedroom to my living room (I rent 2 rooms) because it’s too loud and vibrating to sleep at night. ...

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