10.11.2008

Noisy cherry picker

UK based contractor Sir Robert McAlpine was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,818 by West London Magistrates’ Courts last week for breaching noise regulation with an aerial lift.

Council officials visited the site at 65 Duke of York Square, London at 10.25 am on Sunday 30 March 2008, following a complaint from a local resident. They could hear noise coming from a “cherry picker” and an angle grinder being used in contravention of an order that forbade working on Sundays and public holidays.

The officials photographed the work and spoke to the site foreman telling him to stop the work, he said that the noise was caused by sub contractors – not the main contractor.

Finding Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd guilty of breaching the order, district judge Jeremy Coleman said they were in charge of the works and should have prevented and stopped the work being carried out on a Sunday.

Councilor Fiona Buxton, Kensington and Chelsea Council’s cabinet member for environmental health, said: “We don’t tolerate noisy selfish neighbours and we won’t tolerate noisy selfish builders. Our residents are entitled to enjoy their Sundays without their peace being shattered by building works. “

Vertikal Comment

Although the builders were contravening a court order that prohibited weekend work, one wonders if any complaint would have been made if an electric or bi-energy powered platform had been used?

There is an increasing tendency for building work near offices, hotels or hospitals to require quieter equipment, at least for working during specific times, such as early morning, evenings and weekends. Could this help rejuvenate demand for Bi-Energy booms and scissors?