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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Factory starts machines at 6am AIBU to think about reporting them?

40 replies

Whaddayado · 17/06/2017 08:32

I've just moved into a rural town. It's fairly remote and I hoped quiet.
This morning I woke to the sound of machines at 6am..
There are a couple of farm buildings at the bottom of the field outside my house (about 100m away) where they cut stone.
The sound travels easily and is loud enough to wake me up. They also have two bright spot lights shining late - they were still on at midnight last night.
Surely they aren't working 6am to past midnight? Are they leaving lights on for security? Are there limits on out of hours noise / light pollution?

I've never reporting anyone for anything before, so I don't really know how bad something has to be to warrant a complaint.

Should I put up and shut up for a bit to see if I get used to it?

OP posts:
elephantoverthehill · 17/06/2017 08:35

Some people do have to work long hours especially if they are running their own business.

anyoldname76 · 17/06/2017 08:37

speak to the environment agency/ local council to see if they have a permit in place to limit working hours

CountryCaterpillar · 17/06/2017 08:37

Did you not see that before you moved in? Have you moved from a city? My uncle's farm they were up at silly o clock to do milking, move animals , all sorts and would be out late too.

insancerre · 17/06/2017 08:39

Get some ear plugs and blackout curtains
Let the famer earn his living

topcat2014 · 17/06/2017 08:39

Nothing stopping you contacting the council to check they have the appropriate planning permissions etc. You may even be able to do a search online with the council.

Just because the buildings are 'commercial' doesn't mean all types of activity can take place in them. They could just have permission for storage, and not machinery etc.

(speaking as the owner of a factory building and office building)

CouldntMakeThisShitUp · 17/06/2017 08:40

Perhaps you should have familiarised yourself with rural living - especially your immediate locale - before moving there?

This is normal for farming communities.

topcat2014 · 17/06/2017 08:40

@PP but stone masonry is not dairy farming - although I see your point.

OnionKnight · 17/06/2017 08:40

This is on the same level as complaining about a pubs noise levels after moving next door to it.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 17/06/2017 08:42

So you move rural then want to complain about rural living?Biscuit

sparechange · 17/06/2017 08:43

FIL moved his factory to a rural area so that he could run an extra shift - when they are busy, they have to run a night shift to meet demand - because there weren't any restrictions

Can you check the planning section of the council website to see what class of use and restrictions they have on their buildings?

xyzandabc · 17/06/2017 08:43

At some times of year farms will be a 24/7 operations . If something needs to be done before the weather turns, it needs to be done, day or night.

insancerre · 17/06/2017 08:44

You think the farming noise is bad?

Just wait till the fighter jets come screaming past 😜

BikeRunSki · 17/06/2017 08:44

Environment Agency does not deal with noise (I work for them), it's the council you want. There is likely a permit for allowable working hours from this facility. Your solicitor should have picked it up; if they didn't then keep a diary and lodge a complaint with the council mouse abatement team.

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 17/06/2017 08:44

You should have checked this before buying.

Some of the houses we considered were near schools, so we went and viewed/lurked at school drop-off/pick-up/play-times, to see whether they would affect or bother us. Similarly, another house had a massive garden (which I loved) backing on to an apparently disused train-line. The EA assured us it was disused, and praised the wonderful 'green corridor' even would have, right in the middle of a big city. I checked with National Rail, and discovered that the line was not in fact disused at all: they were in the process of modifying it to take faster trains!

BikeRunSki · 17/06/2017 08:45

Also, chuckling at the idea of the countryside being quiet.

Whaddayado · 17/06/2017 08:45

Hi guys

Thank you so much to those who have answered my questions

For those others:

Lived rurally all my life
The buildings are not a farm
The buildings are down a hill and partly hidden by trees, so I didn't notice a potential issue when viewing the property. I couldn't have known the timings unless I'd camped outside the property

Please I have posted here for you opinions on noise pollution, not to invite your criticism!

OP posts:
insancerre · 17/06/2017 08:45

Blue
Just how loud are these mice?

insancerre · 17/06/2017 08:46

Bike not blue
Autocue curse

WinifredAtwellsOtherPiano · 17/06/2017 08:47

Contact the council to see whether they're allowed to do this. Just because it's the countryside doesn't give them carte blanche to do industrial work at this time in the morning - most of the work that farmers do at 6am has to happen at that time but this doesn't sound like that sort of thing so there may be restrictions.

On the lights; you may well have to suck it up and get thicker curtains, but maybe ask the farmer nicely whether there's any slight change in direction possible which would achieve his aim but give you a bit less glare.

deffoncforthis · 17/06/2017 08:48

You'll probably get used to it and forget it happens, but do get some thick curtains.

Council mouse abatement team would be of little use here unless you're completely sure a mouse is operating the machinery.

badgercat · 17/06/2017 08:53

only you can know if its unreasonably loud, just because it was there first doesnt mean they'll stick to the rules.

My parents live next door to a supermarket, fully prepared for noise all day, however they have deliveries arrive from 5.30am and if the yard isnt ready for them the driver will sit and wait - with it in reverse so the beeping goes off and the engine revs. They move trolleys around the yard at midnight when people are leaving (it closes at 10pm) Not the end of the world stuff but still not "allowed" noise

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 17/06/2017 08:54

YABU to post in AIBU and not expect criticism! However as others have said check their permits with the council.

Confusedandgettingold · 17/06/2017 08:58

Mouse abatement team? Grin

sizeofalentil · 17/06/2017 09:01

Op: Aibu?

Aibu: yes. Here's why…

Op: I didn't post here for criticism

GoneDownhill · 17/06/2017 09:03

I'd do a bit more research first - perhaps this is unusual for them. Speak to your neighbours too. Then contact your Environmental Health Department for advice.