Residents plagued by 'constant noise, dust and dirt' from development on landfill site
Neighbours have complained of 'constant noise, dust and dirt' coming from a development site. Some 165-homes are being built on a former landfill off Cork Lane, in Glen Parva, with piling works currently taking place.
Piling is often required for developments on landfills to ensure weight is distributed to firm land beneath the surface. Ben Smith, whose house backs onto the site, told LeicestershireLive the noise from this phase of the project is "constant" and has left people living in the area "unable to use their gardens", ruining their summers. He added the dust from the works "gets into [his] mouth", leaving him wondering what he is breathing in.
A spokesperson for developer Vistry said the company is taking the concerns of the community "seriously", adding "all necessary precautions" are in place. These include "continuous independent noise and vibration monitoring" to ensure there is "no risk to neighbouring properties", and "regular dust dampening". Road sweepers have also been employed to "clean the local roads and jet washing lorry wheels before they exit onto the public highway", the spokesperson said.
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However, Mr Smith claimed the works are having an impact on his day-to-day life, including his work. He said: "The noise is constant, eight hours a day (Monday to Friday). My office is at the back of our garage.
"It's a horrendous atmosphere trying to talk to people. Even with the door closed. All the banging started the first week of August. We didn't get a letter until we complained, and then suddenly we got an email a week later saying 'Oh, by the way, this work's going to be taking place, and it's going to last six months'."
He added: "You can't keep the windows and doors open. You can't use the garden. It's ruined our whole summer. We've invited Blaby District Council to come and work here for a day here at our house. No-one wants to respond. No-one cares. No-one wants to know.
Regarding the dust, he said: "You get dust in your mouth or that taste of dust, and it's not a nice environment. I mean, what are we actually breathing in? Has anyone actually tested the dust? We want answers on that as well. It's got to the point of do we move because it's not a nice environment if this is going to go on for who knows how long?"
The district council told LeicestershireLive it is aware of the complaints but said the developer is complying with national guidelines when it comes to the noise from the site. It added the council and developer had agreed mitigation measures to minimise the impact of the works, including from dust.
Blaby District Councillor Ande Savage also lives near the development site. He shared a video to his Facebook page revealing the noise coming from it, adding: "Who in their right mind builds houses on a landfill site, and who is actually going to buy them?
"Now, we’re left with the aftermath of this crazy decision to grant planning permission. Constant noise from the ongoing piling work (because it's a landfill), lorries arriving at all hours, dust and dirt everywhere. It’s unbearable!"
The spokesperson for Vistry said: "We have started work to deliver a new development of 165 much-needed family homes at Glen Parva in Leicestershire. As with most large-scale construction projects, the initial phase of the development involves advanced remediation works.
“This work includes piling, a necessary part of the build and is being undertaken in accordance with the agreed planning permission to ensure a clean and stable platform is available for the new homes. All necessary precautions are being taken with continuous independent noise and vibration monitoring to ensure there is no risk to neighbouring properties.
"Blaby District Council has been monitoring these readings and has written to residents stating that the works comply with the approved Piling Method Statement and that the readings for both vibration and noise are compliant with the approved British Standards. We have also been operating regular dust dampening on site to mitigate against dust as well as employing road sweepers to clean the local roads and jet washing lorry wheels before they exit onto the public highway."
They added: “We do take seriously the concerns of the local community and are keen to build positive relationships throughout the project. We encourage anyone impacted by the work to contact our customer service team. Our site manager will continue to keep in touch with our site neighbours to update them.
“We are making good progress on this development, which will become a sustainable community providing new family housing including affordable homes in the heart of Leicestershire.”
Blaby District Council said: "The piling method statement and construction management plan were approved at the application stage which included measures to mitigate the noise and dust. Mitigation measures include wheel-wash facilities, road sweeping, dampening down via a water bowser as well as mist cannons on site."
It added: "Noise levels for construction sites are governed by national guidelines. The noise levels at Cork Lane are compliant."
LeicestershireLive asked the local authority whether the dust coming from the site was believed to be safe. It said: "Development activity does bring with it the potential for dust creation but exposure can be limited through appropriate construction management and best practice. This includes the [mitigation] measures mentioned as well as the sheeting of vehicles leaving the site.
"There is a two metre cap of clean earth on top of the old landfill and as such it is considered that contaminated dust particles are unlikely. We are continuing to monitor how the site is managed and we are also looking at different options in terms of monitoring and analysing dust samples."
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