The neighbouring house next to our Pre-school has asked us not to open our windows on his side due to the 'noise'

[handlemecarefully]

Because our windows our higher than his, apparently it channels and amplifies the noise and he can hear it even through his double glazing (he has mighty fine hearing since his property is detached and double glazed)

He wants us only to open windows on the other side of the school room (i.e. the side of the building not adjacent to his property).

Thing is we have to open windows even in this weather because the radiators are hard to 'calibrate' and either get too hot or too cold. To get a cooling effect windows on both sides need opening

Also we like a bit of ventilation to counteract those winter bugs...

Moreover in high summer opening the windows on just one side of the building will not create a cooling draft effect...

So essentially I'd like to tell him to go shag -himself-- 'no'. However I need to appear polite and constructive....

How should I respond...and is there an olive branch I can offer the old codgerthis nice old gent?

ooh, this really bugs me - people who buy a house next to a school then complain about the sound of children playing, people who buy a house under a flightpath and then complain about the sound of aeroplanes, people who buy a house next to a pub and complain about the noise of drunken people...

grr!

Tell him that you have looked into it and unfortunately it would not be feasible, however you understand his concerns and if it bothers him that much, there is a house under the flightpath of Heathrow for sale at a very reasonable price.

it is an annoying noise tho

in theory if you liked children it might sound charming but in practice it is just really irritating

like u like music but you don't like listening to other peoples

god yes zippi i agree with that

in summer in the garden when you want to listen to your own radio not next doors even if it is the station you like

My only complaint about living next to a school is when they do "dance" in the hall and I'm on the computer upstairs it's very noisy - and I swear I can feel the vibrations

tread carefully though - a friend of mine ran a nursery and, due to the grumpy old woman in a house adjacent, they had to limit the time and number of children allowed outside

But if you've been there longer, you should be OK

How many hours a day does he have to listen to the children? They probably go home at 3.

I am sooo glad we don't have neighbours!

pmsl at him objecting to the artwork. That reminds me of a landlord I once had, who complained about me hanging knickers in the windows.

(He was exaggerating btw. I'd done some laundry one day and had hung all the pants up on a horse rack and had the blinds up because I had cleaned the windows.) But maybe you could try that instead and see if he prefers the artwork?

I would laugh loudly like a drain

and then pause and say "hahahahahaha, thought you were serious then, what sort of freak would moan about this!!!! hahahahahaha you have cheered me up no end"

then shut the door

I totally agree with Piggy
write a letter back (keep copies) from the playgroup committee saying you have looked into it but it isn't possible to guarentee that you will only open the windows on the other side of the building. You do of course at all times like to keep a good relationship with your neighbours and if there is anything else he would like to discuss feel free to contact you at any time. Full stop. End of conversation.

Depending on what organisations you are affiliated with you could always call and ask if they can help you justify your decision. There may be perfect legal / health and safety reasons why you can't agree aside from the fact that his request is unworkable.

IMHO - take a few moments to phone your local authority, ask for the department that deals with noise pollution, explain the situation, say that for the health of the children you need to ventilate the building adequately and ask someone to come and assess the noise for you because you take this complaint seriously.

We know it?s a load of rubbish, but there are heaps of noise action groups (seriously) Noise Abatement Society, The Noise Network, National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection and UK Noise Association) but although they are really for roads, airports and noisy construction sites, people are going to them for domestic issues.

Cover your back.