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Following the local outcry against the appallingly high levels of noise from the Whiteley’s construction site, the Whiteley’s developers have organised a Public Meeting on Thursday 27th June at the Porchester Small Hall from 7.00pm – 8.30pm.
Residents have now formed themselves in to a group – Whiteley’s Noise Action Group – following a meeting organised by Labour Councillor Maggie Carman at the Prince Bonaparte pub to discuss what to do about the intolerable noise pollution from the Whiteley’s redevelopment.
Councillor Carman is continuing to urge the Council to take action to reduce the daily noise from the demolition contractors. Residents from all over the area have made contact with their daily experience of the noise and disruption:
“I live in a Basement Flat in Hereford Road. The daily noise from the Whiteley’s Development makes it impossible to work from home. If I’m experiencing this, I assume everyone else in a basement within in this radius from Whiteleys does too. How can this kind of disturbance to the neighbourhood, to THIS degree, be allowed? This is for a private development that takes from, rather than adds to the community. The cost and inconvenience to me of having to go out somewhere above ground to be able to concentrate will be multiplied by others in the same position. I can imagine people who work nights and need to sleep during the day are deeply affected.”
“I live in Chepstow Place and can also hear the noise from Whiteleys. I called the council and was informed the builders discovered 1.5m of concrete and they are trying to remove it. I was told that there are some restrictions for the noise (only from 8am to 10am, from noon to 2pm and from 4pm to 6pm). I work from home and the noise makes me desperate. It is increasing my stress and anxiety and does not allow me to relax. I cannot imagine hearing this for the next 6 months, seems completely unreasonable. It would be so helpful if you could do something about it. Otherwise, they should pay for counseling!! “
“I am a resident of Palace Court and the noise of the demolition is driving me crazy!This week it got significantly worse so I went to the site office to complain and learnt that there had been a meeting about this last Friday, such a shame local residents were not made aware of it, I would have attended.It is ridiculous that I am now structuring my day around their drilling. Why should I be driven out of my home for up to six hours a day? This certainly has not been a glorious summer but as Autumn arrives the options of where to flee to diminish or get expensive!I am aware that this work has been monitored and is within guidelines but maybe they should be reviewed?”
The Council say the following actions are being taken to minimize and mitigate the noise:
- The site is being monitored by Officers with regards to the compliance with the agreed 2 hour-on and 2 hour-off working pattern.
- The site has set noise and vibration limits with 4 continuous noise/vibration monitors located on the 4 boundaries.
- An automatic alerting system is in place to notify the site if the set levels have been exceeded and the site has confirmed that since the works have commenced no such alarm has been activated to date.
- The Environmental Sciences Team are actively monitoring data that is received from the site and will check for compliance.
- The company managing and undertaking the construction works are looking at the possibility of alternative machinery to see if they reduce the impact of noise/vibrations from the site.
Come to the meeting at the Small Porchester Hall on Thursday 27thJune at 7.00pm
You can contact Councillor Maggie Carman at mcarman@westminster.gov.uk