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AIBU?

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Original poster

Workmen at 9.15pm

30 replies

Workmen · 19/05/2023 08:18

Does anyone know the rules on workmen digging up roads and pavements and at what time it is considered unreasonable? At 9.15pm last night three loud workmen with a huge lorry and a compacting machine were tarmacing the pavement directly outside my bedroom window. Surely this can't be right, it was very almost dark!

I've name changed as I've put this on the village Facebook group.

I know I'm not being unreasonable but posting for traffic.

Thanks

OP posts:
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Original poster
Workmen · 19/05/2023 11:53

To answer the questions, I get up at 5am on weekdays as I need to be at work for 6.45pm and I have a commute. By Thursday I'm knackered. Friday is a bit of a daze and I catch up with sleep at weekends.

I'm 52 so menopausal and knackered. Sorry for being a bit grumpy that workmen (who were only carrying out instructions) were using heavy plant outside my bedroom when I was trying to get an early night.

Sorry for being agitated by the posters who are unable to read a simple question and respond nicely without judging.

Have a nice day everyone. I hope your day is free of heavy duty tarmac compactors and huge lorries.

OP posts:
UsingChangeofName · 19/05/2023 11:16

No need to be arsey with @Puzzledanddissatisfied
She is right.
You posted in AIBU.

Ponoka7 · 19/05/2023 10:38

It's 8pm here. Perhaps posters live in a particularly noisy place, but it is unreasonable (and against some LA policies) to do such work after 6/8pm, unless an emergency. It protects workers rights as well. We've got new builds going up in my area and the site bosses have tried to start earlier and earlier and finish later. It's a cost cutting exercise because they don't want to take on as many as they really need and are pushing the working hours. These policies protect everyone.

LakieLady · 19/05/2023 10:32

When they were cabling the roads round here for Virgin, they worked till 9pm or thereabouts, 7 days a week. It took a few weeks, too, and damn near drove me mad. As well as the noise, they had these mega-bright lights up where they were working, and even with the curtains closed, the light got round the sides of them and was almost bright enough to read by.

I tried complaining to the council, but was told there are special provisions for telecomms, and that they can basically do what they like. It must have been dreaful for anyone with young kids kept awake long past bedtime, night after night.

The workmen, mostly Polish, were actually lovely, really polite, and pretty considerate, but they were contracted to do the work by a deadline so they had to crack on with it. They finally finished and packed up on 23 December and it was such a relief, I wouldn't have been if the whole neighbourhood had burst into spontaneous cheering.

Bringonthesunforthewashing · 19/05/2023 10:19

@SooninBrisbane i know yeah, but then we don’t know what time she gets up or if she was shattered and needed an early night

SooninBrisbane · 19/05/2023 10:16

Bringonthesunforthewashing · 19/05/2023 10:15

Howay girls, it’s Friday let’s not argue eh…

If op was a bit arsey she’s probably just knackered because some arsehole was keeping her awake last night!

Happened to me before, it’s not fun

Keeping her awake at 9.15? It's hardly the middle of the night/early hours

Bringonthesunforthewashing · 19/05/2023 10:15

Howay girls, it’s Friday let’s not argue eh…

If op was a bit arsey she’s probably just knackered because some arsehole was keeping her awake last night!

Happened to me before, it’s not fun

ANiceSliceOfCake · 19/05/2023 10:12

They can’t win. Do it in the day they cause traffic jams.

dwightkurtschrute · 19/05/2023 10:12

Workmen · 19/05/2023 10:00

@Puzzledanddissatisfied I'm sorry you're not able to follow a simple question. Must be a bit of a nuisance in normal life.

You’re a snotty old thing ain’t you?

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/05/2023 10:11

Presumably they do it when the roads are quieter. When did they finish?

MonumentalLentil · 19/05/2023 10:09

Workmen · 19/05/2023 08:37

It was not emergency works, it was laying cables for future use of fast broadband. We all had electric, gas and water.

Is it Open Infra?
They seem to work to the same rules as they do in Sweden. Which are a mystery even to the workmen. They turn up randomly, then vanish for months, then turn up again. Sometimes make an appointment and keep it, but go off without doing anything and don't come back for weeks.
Very polite though.

Timeforchangeithink · 19/05/2023 10:07

Flipping heck OP, stop being horrible - YOU posted in AIBU!

Original poster
Workmen · 19/05/2023 10:00

@Puzzledanddissatisfied I'm sorry you're not able to follow a simple question. Must be a bit of a nuisance in normal life.

OP posts:
Puzzledanddissatisfied · 19/05/2023 09:56

To be fair OP, you did ask in the AIBU section so the question as to whether you are being unreasonable is inherent in the post. No need to get arsey with people answering it.

Original poster
Workmen · 19/05/2023 09:51

Thanks @Rollercoaster1920 - that's the sort of info I was looking for.

OP posts:
Rollercoaster1920 · 19/05/2023 09:47

Check on your local council's website. For example Wandsworth say:

The hours that are normally permitted for operations which cause noise audible at the site boundary are:

  • Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
  • Saturday: 8am to 1pm
https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/environment/nuisance-behaviour/noise/how-we-deal-with-business-and-commercial-noise/

So if you were in Wandsworth you could have reported it as a noise nuisance to the council.

How we deal with business and commercial noise - Wandsworth Borough Council

Our approach to complaints about business-related noise.

https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/environment/nuisance-behaviour/noise/how-we-deal-with-business-and-commercial-noise

Original poster
Workmen · 19/05/2023 09:41

Thanks for all your help!

Note to self, don't ask a simple question without realising you'll be judged beyond all reasonable expectations.

OP posts:
Tinktravels · 19/05/2023 09:22

7 am - 11am so they were in the time allowed

RampantIvy · 19/05/2023 09:19

We back on to a railway line. Whenever there are any planned night time works Network Rail always send us a letter to warn us.

rainraingoawaay · 19/05/2023 09:14

I don't think so - it happens where I am sometimes, works that would be too disruptive to traffic during the day or similar are done late evening / at night. The roads where resurfaced between 10pm-6am recently, as that was the only time to shut the road that wouldn't have caused chaos!

It's quite common for planned works from what I've seen

Redebs · 19/05/2023 09:14

Workmen · 19/05/2023 09:10

I am not disputing the fact that this is not the worst problem to ever have happened or that it's life changing.

What I actually asked was if anyone knows what time is considered unreasonable? Not for a debate on whether I am or not.

Bit grumpy OP? You could look it up maybe?
As some people have suggested, it might be they are doing it later to avoid closing the road at night, or there might be an emergency.

Original poster
Workmen · 19/05/2023 09:10

I am not disputing the fact that this is not the worst problem to ever have happened or that it's life changing.

What I actually asked was if anyone knows what time is considered unreasonable? Not for a debate on whether I am or not.

OP posts:
cocoloco117 · 19/05/2023 09:06

They resurfaced the road outside ours late at night too. Took about 3 nights, was annoying but during the day would have caused worse traffic problems, we all piled into the back bedrooms. Worse things happen at sea.

Mindymomo · 19/05/2023 08:59

We’ve had this outside our house till 11 pm this week, my neighbours spoke to them, they said they are behind on their contract, due to bad weather they have to catch up and work late. These were working on new Box broadband lines.

MintJulia · 19/05/2023 08:55

I'd guess that in laying cables, they had damaged something else, and had to repair that. It happens quite often.