logo
#

Latest news with #noisecomplaints

'Intrusive' cannabis farm noise affecting lives
'Intrusive' cannabis farm noise affecting lives

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

'Intrusive' cannabis farm noise affecting lives

Neighbours of a Jersey medical cannabis farm have said the site has stopped them from enjoying their homes. The States of Jersey Complaints Panel upheld a complaint over how the Infrastructure and Environment Department handled residents' complaints about the noise and smells coming from the Northern Leaf farm in St Lawrence. Roger Nightingale, who lives next to the site, said the noise emitted from the farm was so intrusive it meant he and his partner, Penny Bromley, could not sit in their garden. Environment minister Steve Luce said the government strongly rejected the panel's findings and had put "a lot of resource" into the issues highlighted. The BBC has approached Northern Leaf for comment. Mr Nightingale said a low level noise from the farm was aggravating to deal with. "You can't sit in the garden for a length of time," he said. "There's low-level noise that gives you headaches so you can't have the windows open. "It's really intrusive and affects your lifestyle." Ms Bromley said the issues and "horrendous whirring sound" from the farm had forced her to spend more time away from Jersey. "I can't enjoy my home at all," she said. The panel said the government had taken too long to deal with complaints from residents. It also criticised the government's use of an unjust "sniff test" to decide whether cannabis odours from the farm were a problem. Ms Bromley added that the panel's comments had made complainants like her feel vindicated although she questioned whether it would "make much difference" overall. "I think the farm's either got to be closed down or the noise has to be stopped," she said. More news stories for Jersey Listen to the latest news for Jersey Deputy Hilary Jeune, chair of the environment, housing and infrastructure scrutiny panel, said the complaints had made it clear the island needed an independent public service ombudsman. "We have seen the panel uphold the complaints but the government has pushed back on the recommendations," she said. "The panel doesn't have any power to go further than that." In response to the panel's findings, chief officer of infrastructure and environment Andy Scate said the government "completely refute the suggestion that the department acted contrary to the law or behaved in a way that was unjust". Luce said the government had put in "thousands of hours" of work for years to deal with issues from residents' complaints about the farm. "Unfortunately, we are in a process which becomes protracted and involves appeals, courts and a whole range of things," he said. "But we have to be fair to both sides." Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to States panel upholds cannabis farm complaint Cannabis site ordered to remove unauthorised kit Jersey States votes not to decriminalise cannabis States of Jersey Government of Jersey

'Intrusive' Jersey cannabis farm noise affecting lives
'Intrusive' Jersey cannabis farm noise affecting lives

BBC News

time6 days ago

  • Health
  • BBC News

'Intrusive' Jersey cannabis farm noise affecting lives

Neighbours of a Jersey medical cannabis farm have said the site has stopped them from enjoying their States of Jersey Complaints Panel upheld a complaint over how the Infrastructure and Environment Department handled residents' complaints about the noise and smells coming from the Northern Leaf farm in St Nightingale, who lives next to the site, said the noise emitted from the farm was so intrusive it meant he and his partner, Penny Bromley, could not sit in their minister Steve Luce said the government strongly rejected the panel's findings and had put "a lot of resource" into the issues highlighted. The BBC has approached Northern Leaf for comment. 'Horrendous whirring' Mr Nightingale said a low level noise from the farm was aggravating to deal with."You can't sit in the garden for a length of time," he said. "There's low-level noise that gives you headaches so you can't have the windows open."It's really intrusive and affects your lifestyle."Ms Bromley said the issues and "horrendous whirring sound" from the farm had forced her to spend more time away from Jersey."I can't enjoy my home at all," she said. The panel said the government had taken too long to deal with complaints from also criticised the government's use of an unjust "sniff test" to decide whether cannabis odours from the farm were a Bromley added that the panel's comments had made complainants like her feel vindicated although she questioned whether it would "make much difference" overall."I think the farm's either got to be closed down or the noise has to be stopped," she said. Deputy Hilary Jeune, chair of the environment, housing and infrastructure scrutiny panel, said the complaints had made it clear the island needed an independent public service ombudsman."We have seen the panel uphold the complaints but the government has pushed back on the recommendations," she said."The panel doesn't have any power to go further than that." 'Fair to both sides' In response to the panel's findings, chief officer of infrastructure and environment Andy Scate said the government "completely refute the suggestion that the department acted contrary to the law or behaved in a way that was unjust".Luce said the government had put in "thousands of hours" of work for years to deal with issues from residents' complaints about the farm."Unfortunately, we are in a process which becomes protracted and involves appeals, courts and a whole range of things," he said."But we have to be fair to both sides."

Jersey States panel backs cannabis farm noise and smell complaint
Jersey States panel backs cannabis farm noise and smell complaint

BBC News

time7 days ago

  • Politics
  • BBC News

Jersey States panel backs cannabis farm noise and smell complaint

A States' panel has upheld a complaint over the way the government handled residents' concerns about noise and smells from a cannabis farm in complaints panel said the Infrastructure and Environment Department had prioritised the interests of the Northern Leaf farm in St Lawrence to the detriment of people living nearby last panel said the government had taken too long to deal with residents' complaints, criticising its use of an unjust "sniff test" to decide whether cannabis odours from the farm were a Scate, Chief Officer of Infrastructure and Environment, said the department acknowledged the report but did not accept the findings. The panel said the government officers had "misinterpreted" the law that covered how nuisances should be dealt added that delays in bringing forward an abatement notice for noise and any action in relation to the odours had been unreasonable and that there was enough evidence to have acted to quicker in respect to "odours emanating from the site".Head of the panel Geoffrey Crill said: "The fact that no precedents existed should not have prevented action from being taken by the department. "The board considers it unacceptable that the department simply extended the monitoring of odours in order to meet a threshold that had already been acknowledged as unworkable." The government rejected the panel's decision, saying there were "many inaccuracies" in its Scate said: "Our responsibility is to uphold Jersey's regulatory framework fairly and impartially - that means acting in the interests of all parties, residents, businesses and the wider community."In the case of Northern Leaf, the department has issued a number of enforcement and noise asbatement notices and we have taken clear regulatory action in response to concerns raised. "We stand by our actions taken, ensuring that our interventions lead to meaningful and lasting improvements for those affected." 'Panel oversteps boundaries' Mr Scate said there had been a "substantial investment of resources" into the case, including more than 10 officers over a four-year period and "over 1,000 hours of focused effort".He said: "We do not accept the view that more could or should have been done - our team has acted at all times with diligence, professionalism and within the scope of legislation."Mr Scate added that the department was "not afforded the opportunity to participate fully in the panel's hearing process". He said: "The absence of a right to reply or to clarify key information before conclusions were drawn is disappointing and does not reflect principles of procedural fairness."We believe the panel continues to overstep the boundaries of its remit, particularly in matters relating to professional judgment and legal process."The department said it would report to the States within the next three months with a full response to the decision.

City fines Escapade Festival organizers for early start to loud music
City fines Escapade Festival organizers for early start to loud music

CTV News

time22-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • CTV News

City fines Escapade Festival organizers for early start to loud music

The organizers of the Escapade Music Festival in Ottawa will face a fine for allegedly playing music earlier than permitted under a noise exemption granted by the City of Ottawa, according to Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr. The popular electronic music festival at the grounds of the RA Centre is allowed to play music on Sunday from 1 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. According to Carr, no noise from the grounds was permitted before noon, but a sound check could be heard as soon as 8 a.m. before the exemption period began. The violation resulted in a $490 fine from Bylaw Services, she said. Escapade organizers did not respond to a request for comment. CTV News Ottawa also reached out to Bylaw Services but a response was not immediately available. The festival wraps up on Sunday night after a weekend featuring some of the biggest artists in EDM, including Kygo, DJ Snake and The Chainsmokers. Overnight thunderstorms and heavy winds forced organizers to delay the start of the day by one hour to clean up the venue, according to the festival's Instagram. The annual festival elicited dozens of noise complaints from residents of nearby Alta Vista and Old Ottawa South over the weekend. According to Carr, Bylaw Services received 26 complaints on Friday and 21 on Saturday. 'I appreciate that there are some concerns from residents, that it has been disruptive. I understand people may not have been able to undertake the daily activities in the same way, but it is allowable,' Carr said, who adds she received additional complaints through email and social media. The festival was allowed to play music on Friday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Under the exemption granted to the organizers, sound is not permitted to go over 65 dBA when measured at nearby homes and businesses. 'Every single reading that bylaw has done in response to a complaint or because they're proactively monitoring, has been within the threshold. For both evenings so far, it has been within the allowable noise levels,' Carr said. Some residents say events like Escapade are important to make the nation's capital a vibrant city. 'To me, actually, it's a nice sound. It's something that makes us think about the community and the city around us and people having fun,' said Alta Vista resident Brady Allin, who admits he's more of a 'rock and roll guy.' Carr says events like Escapade are a big driver of tourism and have a positive economic impact on the city. 'Economically, they help the city, and they do provide an opportunity for people to listen to the music and have a good, enjoyable three days,' she said. It's the first time the festival has been held at the RA Centre since 2013 after moving to Lansdowne Park in 2017. Bylaw Services laid charges against the festival's organizers in 2023 after receiving over 100 complaints from residents about excessive bass noise and loud music. That year, the city said organizers did not receive a noise bylaw exemption. Carr says she sees the festival returning to the RA Centre grounds. 'I wouldn't be surprised if we see it at the RA Centre again in future years. The only impacts that have really been reported are the traffic impacts that occur when it shuts down and that's the same as any other event in the city,' she said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store