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Noise regulations

Good morning all. I've just got back from one of my commercial contracts (housing estate) where I was hoping to get some hedge cutting done which I've been behind on due to my van breaking down last week.I was just about to start when one of the residents came out and asked if I was allowed to use my tools on a Bank Holiday. I told them I would find out and if I wasn't then I would be back another day.I searched the web (local council/general noise laws) for noise regulations regarding bank holidays and the only regs I can find are for construction and building sites which denote that NO work is to be undertaken on a Sunday or bank holiday. To be safe I packed up the van and headed home.So my question is... Do we come under the same noise regulations as construction and building sites, or is there another part of the law for ground maintenance/garden machinery?

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Replies

  • PRO
    In South Bucks the answer is no noise between 1800 and 0700 on weekdays and on Saturdays work must stop at midday and not resume until the next working day. This applies to any commercial activity as far as I am aware.

    If your work is done on a one-off basis (ie. one site on a Sunday, B/H etc) then I guess you won't be there long enough for noise abatement officers to come and catch you! If you are making a racket every Sunday however then you might leave yourself open to prosecution.

    Common sense is the key thing here I think.
  • Any sort of restrictions with working times should of been highlighted when your customer gave you the go ahead.
    However the norm for a built up area ie a housing estate is normally no work between the hrs of 6pm and 8am.
    So get back and get the job. There will be plenty of people getting the lawn cut this afterNoon
  • True, even I've come back and cut my own grass today!

    The site I'm on, I visit 3 days per week, 1 week grass cutting, the 2nd week hedge/shrub/bush cutting, 3rd grass cutting etc etc. I always take into consideration what time I am using my tools and if I start early there is an area I can work on until about 8am when I move into the communal areas around the flats and houses.

    I do realise it makes an awful racket (107 db!) and sometimes I'm working just a couple of feet from peoples windows. If it was a small job I would of got it done but I was going to be working for 7hours+ today which I think may have pushed people over the edge!

    Either way i'll be back there tomorrow with double the workload!
  • I'd have pointed the 'resident' to their front door and suggested they stay behind it and put on ear muffs if they want to spend a sunny bank holiday sleeping! My work is done between 0800 and 1700 and I wouldn't stop at any time due to noise.

    Legally someone can ask the council's nuisance people to stop noise at any time of day or night. You should have just got on with it and not let them put you out in that way.
  • Cheers for the replies guys!

    I phoned up my local council today and I was right to pack up my tools. Ground maintenance/Gardening comes under the same noise regulations as construction and building sites.

    I think that if I was working on behalf of a private client in their garden then it would be a different matter but because I was working on behalf of the local housing group (on public ground) it is deemed that I had to abide by the laws set out by the council.

    They did say that it would start off with a warning and then if it carried on then a fine would be issued and then court action etc etc.

    So I just thought id let you all know what we are classed under in terms of noise regulations (sort of), enjoy your Tuesday night!
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