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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think broadband network installation shouldn't have noisy overnight work in residential areas?

5 replies

Tillow4ever · 22/08/2024 01:06

So Wednesday morning, I was walking to a neighbours house up our shared driveway and walked past a man in traditional "builders" attire popping a note/letter through our immediate next door neighbour's letterbox. When I got to the house we were going to (3 away from our house), there was also one of these notes through the door. Basically said they were coming to our area to install ultra fast broadband (note that these are not the first to do this in our town, and that all areas already had fairly fast standard broadband anyway - so not as if an essential and vital missing service) and work would start on 21st Aug (ie the day the letter was dropped off). Said they'd keep disruption to a minimum etc, etc. Now it's lucky I saw this as they never bothered putting the letter through our door, nor one of our other neighbours.

They actually set up and started working around about 4.30pm Wednesday afternoon. Lots of digging, traffic lights, road not passable in paces etc - as to be expected. But it's now nearly 1am and they are still going. I can hear them talking to each other, laughing and joking, etc. The machinery is still noisy, and of course in the stillness of the night, everything is amplified.

Now I have no issue with urgent works etc being carried out in unsociable hours. But something like this doesn't scream "urgent" to me - certainly not urgent enough to be keeping all the residents around here awake (especially midweek when lots of people will have work in the morning). It's a quiet town anyway, so anything like this will be noticed.

AIBU to expect them to not be doing noisy works outside of the general acceptable hours for noise for something that is only really benefiting the business doing the work rather than it being something being urgently fixed for example? Especially as they started the work so late in the day, provided essentially no advance notice, and they couldn't even be arsed to actually let every household know anyway?

I'm shattered after a really busy few weeks coupled with recovering from a nasty bout of cellulitis, and know that I have an early start in the morning with a long day ahead including a bit of driving. So I accept that it might get just be me being grumpy!

OP posts:
HelloMiss · 22/08/2024 01:17

Well I work nights and sleep in the day so it would work for me!

Tillow4ever · 22/08/2024 01:27

HelloMiss · 22/08/2024 01:17

Well I work nights and sleep in the day so it would work for me!

I do accept there are a minority of people this would work great for. But given we have laws around what are considered unsociable hours for excessive noise, we use that as our yardstick and not what works for one or two people. I do have empathy for those working nights that they have to put up with all the noise etc of the day - but in my experience, I have found it easier falling asleep in the day with the noise not being quite so "obvious" as at night because of all the other noises going on!

OP posts:
Boopbeepbeepboop · 22/08/2024 04:45

Lots of digging, traffic lights, road not passable in paces etc - as to be expected

Maybe this level of disruption just isn't feasible during the day? I'm sure it will be over soon, it's just one of those things.

Tillow4ever · 22/08/2024 08:37

Boopbeepbeepboop · 22/08/2024 04:45

Lots of digging, traffic lights, road not passable in paces etc - as to be expected

Maybe this level of disruption just isn't feasible during the day? I'm sure it will be over soon, it's just one of those things.

We're a tiny cul-de-sac and they were digging like that during the day too. But I appreciate the suggestion. I've managed a few hours of broken sleep, supposed to be driving in a bit which isn't good with how dizzy I feel! I guess I was annoyed too that they couldn't even be arsed to let every house know, and we had to find out that it was some really urgent water leak work or similar on our own!

OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 22/08/2024 08:49

I would call your council and ask. Usually work is only allowed over night for emergencies.
They’ve dug up everywhere here for new broadband too but I can’t seem them making much off it as everyone already has it!

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