Latest news with #noisepollution
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fury over plans for super-sized padel tennis centre in warehouse surrounded by homes as neighbours say 'tremendous noise' will stop people 'relaxing in their gardens'
Furious neighbours are battling to stop a super-sized padel tennis centre next an an existing rival site, which they argue would stop them from being able to relax in their gardens. Plans for the site were lodged with the local council, which sparked backlash from residents arguing that the centre would create a huge traffic problem and be very noisy in the area. Since the company, Advantage Padel, tabled the proposals for the warehouse in Christchurch, Dorset, 25 locals have now objected to it. The new centre will have nine full-size courts, as well as four singles courts, which would mean up to 44 people could play at the same time. This would add to an already established padel tennis business located within the same industrial complex. Padel tennis has recently risen in popularity and has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK. Unlike in tennis, a padel racket is solid with no strings and is thicker, meaning it makes a very loud noise when striking the ball. Locals say as the new centre would be open from 7am to 10pm for seven days a week, it would them 'no respite' to those affected. Resident Mark Anderson said: 'Padel tennis is very loud and multiple courts being used all times of day and evening will be very disruptive. 'I feel that this facility will add a lot of noise in the area.' Julia Gladstone said: 'This facility will result in a huge increase in the volume of traffic entering and exiting a small complex of business units. 'The centre will be open from early morning to late evening and will create a high level of noise which will effect local residents and have a negative impact on their use of the garden for relaxation. 'The increase in both noise and air pollution that will be caused by the introduction of such a large facility cannot be ignored.' Kevan Thornton added: 'The huge number of padel courts will generate a tremendous noise which despite being in an enclosed building will have an adverse effect on local offices and neighbours.' Many people also raised concerns that the new centre would push out a much smaller padel business just 350 yards away. The PicklePad, the UK's first dedicated pickleball and padel indoor centre, opened in January just around the corner from where Advantage Padel want to put their new centre. Hayley Richardson said the PicklePad is already meeting the demand. She said: 'The applicant has failed to acknowledge the existence of a similar, established facility within close proximity. 'Their assertion that no such facility exists in Christchurch, and that there is an unmet demand, is therefore inaccurate.' Richard McWilliam said it will cause 'misery' for residents. He added: 'I enjoy sport and fitness and I am aware padel tennis is a popular sport and I am always supportive of any sporting or health facility opening. 'I think it is very short sighted to approve another very similar facility when PicklePad opened so recently.' Not everyone is against the plans. Jonathan Facer said it would bring new jobs to the local economy. He added: 'It will give more access to a fantastic new sport. It will be great to have one of largest padel tennis centres in the south of England, right here is Christchurch. I can't wait!' Padel has the same scoring system as tennis, but different rules, strokes and techniques. It was invented in Mexico in the 1960s, but soared in popularity during the Covid pandemic as it could be played outside and did not involve physical contact. By 2023 there were more than 25 million active players across 90 countries. In the UK, the Lawn Tennis Association said the number of courts have increased from 50 in 2019 to 350, and they aim to have 1,000 courts by the end of next year. The bats are solid and the ball can be hit off the court walls, like in squash. Both these things result in it being considered far noisier than tennis, with some likening the sound to gunfire.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Sydney resident fed-up over ‘explicit' 2am noises from neighbour
A resident in a Sydney apartment says he's fed up after enduring months of 'consistent' loud music, instrument playing and X-rated noises coming from his neighbour's flat beneath him. The man, who took to Reddit to vent, has asked for advice about how to deal with the situation, where he claims he and his partner are subjected to the loud noises between 11pm and 2am. 'Yes, I know it's apartments! You will get noise here and there, and for the most part, I can tolerate it … up until 10pm or so,' he wrote to the forum. He then shared a video he recorded that captured one of the 'songs' his neighbour was singing recently. In the clip, a man is heard singing 'F**k, f**k, f**k,' repeatedly to the sound of what appears to be a guitar background track. He believes the poster has recently gone through a breakup with his girlfriend. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he attempted to approach the apartment multiple times around midnight on workdays to ask about the singing and instruments. 'Usually (I got) no response or a 'f**k off' shouted from wherever he is,' he said. He also said another neighbour had tried a similar approach and even 'banged on his door' with little success. The Redditor claimed this was a consistent issue, but only provided video evidence of this one occasion. Lawyer weighs in Strata lawyer, Amanda Farmer, told that the resident should contact the strata manager (if there is one) or find out who the secretary of the strata committee is. 'This noisy neighbour is potentially breaching the by-laws, and the committee can issue an official 'notice to comply',' Ms Farmer explained. 'If the noisy resident is a tenant, the landlord should be informed of this behaviour as it's likely also a breach of their lease.' Ultimately, she said either the suffering resident or the owners' corporation can take the situation to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) and seek a penalty of up to $1000 and an order that the behaviour stop. Etiquette tips to deal with noisy neighbours Meanwhile, Jo Hayes, an etiquette expert, has shared her tips on how to deal with noisy neighbours, while acknowledging that the Reddit post is on the more extreme end of the spectrum. But when it comes to more common noise complaints, Ms Hayes says there are a few general rules of thumb to follow. 'My starting point advice is to communicate the issue either by written letter or face-to-face,' she says. 'Always keep in mind the conflict resolution MO: be kind, calm and clear.' If the situation appears like it could turn volatile, she warns against face-to-face confrontation and suggests approaching a third party to intervene. Commenters share their thoughts Commenters agreed it was an annoying situation to be in, but many couldn't help but comment on the humorous nature of the song. 'I'm so sorry, but this is hilarious. What a stunning break-up song,' one commenter wrote. 'The funniest part is he is actually on rhythm,' said another, as someone else called the tune 'a bop'. 'Why did this have to come out after the hottest 100 of all time?' asked another. 'Publish the song on Spotify, make millions, buy a new house,' suggested a different user. Jokes aside, many people did share their advice for the man and expressed their sympathies about the situation.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Nightmare': Meriton resident faces ‘unrelenting' noise from Woolworths loading dock metres away
A Sydney apartment owner says he is at his wits' end after enduring months of 'deafening' and 'unrelenting' noise coming from a Woolworths loading dock located just metres away on the other side of his bedroom wall. Yang Yuan, 32, has questioned how building standards allowed the unusual layout of Mascot Central, where he claims his family is exposed to 'severe industrial noise', including reversing trucks, heavy metal impacts and rolling pallet jacks, from 7am to 11.40pm every day. 'It's a nightmare,' he told 'The noise is very intermittent, very random and very loud. The workers on the loading dock work on shifts — we are there, we don't have shifts. When they're working, I put my hand against the bedroom ceiling and I can literally feel it shaking. It feels as if we're living inside the loading dock.' The software engineer purchased the $750,000 one-bedroom unit in November last year and moved in with his wife and two cats straight away. The mixed-use Meriton development, located in Sydney's inner-south, was completed in 2016, and the developer says it has never received any noise complaints until now. But Mr Yuan, who has recorded multiple videos of the loud banging and industrial noise reverberating through his bedroom, says he feels abandoned by Meriton, Woolworths and Bayside Council, accusing them of repeatedly 'deflecting or denying responsibility' despite repeated complaints. 'They have put a lot of effort into denying the problem but if they had put the same amount of effort into investigating the issue it might already have been solved,' he said. Mr Yuan said the noise made it 'impossible' to work from home, 'rest or live comfortably', and left the couple's mental health in tatters. 'I've previously lived in some of the noisiest environments imaginable — next to highways, above bus stops, near construction sites, even beside neighbours playing instruments,' he said. 'None of that ever bothered me. When I say this loading dock noise is unbearable, it's not about sensitivity, it's genuinely extreme.' He and his wife, who works as a freelance digital artist, are now 'suffering from chronic sleep deprivation, heightened anxiety and constant anger'. 'Most of our free time is now spent fighting this — countless hours filming, recording, investigating and contacting different parties for help,' he said. Mr Yuan and his wife have now moved their bed into the downstairs living room to escape the worst of the noise. 'In the living room we can also hear the noise but it's like 10 per cent better,' he said. He added that he felt the build quality contributed to the noise penetration. He said the building materials were 'definitely not good for isolating the noise considering you're building next to the loading dock.' After his initial complaints to Meriton, the developer obtained a noise testing report in April, which found no issues. In May, Mr Yuan hired a professional acoustic engineer at his own cost. Over a two-day period, KR Acoustic recorded more than two dozen instances at nearly double the limits prescribed by the Association of Australasian Acoustical Consultants (AAAC) for 'impulsive' noises such those as generated by weight dropping in gyms. The sample identified 10 noise events measuring 61dBA during the day, versus the 35dBA limit, nine measuring 58dBA during the evening, when the limit is 30dBA, and six at night measuring 50dBA, double the 25dBA limit. The noise events were 'both loud and frequent, regularly exceeding allowable limits at all hours of the day', the report said. KR Acoustic concluded that noise was 'structure-borne, originating from activities at the Woolworths loading dock, and it consistently exceeds the impulsive noise limits set by the AAAC, particularly in relation to gym weight drops but also relevant for similar structure borne impulsive noise in general'. 'The measurement results substantiate residents' concerns, providing sufficient grounds for authorised officers or enforcement personnel to further investigate and to classify the noise as offensive,' it said. 'It is very likely that the noise contributes to elevated stress levels of the residents.' Mr Yuan provided the report both to Meriton and Bayside Council in June. The council said it was investigating the noise complaint, but in July informed Mr Yuan that Meriton had provided its own acoustic report which countered his, and declined to pursue the matter. Mr Yuan said he had only been provided a summary of the conflicting report. 'No one is trying to help us,' he said. A Woolworths spokesman said the Mascot Central store was operated 'like any one of our supermarkets'. 'The store is open between 7am and 10pm, and receives deliveries throughout the day,' he said. 'We've been operating in the community for close to 10 years. If there's any further questions about the operation of the shopping centre, they're best directed to Meriton.' A Meriton spokesman said Mascot Central was a 'well established development now over 10 years old, and to date, this is the only complaint Meriton has received regarding noise from the loading dock'. 'The concern was raised by a new owner who has only recently moved in,' he said. 'It's important to note that the previous owner of the same apartment did not report any noise issues over a nine-year period, nor have we received similar concerns from other residents within Mascot Central, which comprises 1200 apartments. Nonetheless, Meriton took the matter seriously and engaged an independent acoustic engineer to conduct a thorough assessment. Noise monitors were installed over a period of time. The investigation confirmed that noise levels were well within the acceptable range and did not exceed any regulatory thresholds.' Bayside Council said in a statement it was 'working with Woolworths and Meriton to identify any additional noise mitigation measures that could be implemented, while still supporting the approved use of the site'. 'Under the current development consent, Woolworths is permitted to operate until midnight, with loading dock use allowed until 10pm,' a spokesperson said. 'An acoustic report was submitted by one resident in early June 2025. Meriton, who manage the retail complex, provided an acoustic report in response and their findings conflict with the resident's report. Council will continue to work to find a suitable resolution for all parties.'
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Blue Angels jets killed my beloved pet cat Layla...then did something that tipped me over the edge
A Seattle woman has accused the US Navy's Blue Angels of 'terrorizing' her elderly cat before its death, then violating her rights after they blocked her on social media for complaining, according to a new lawsuit. Lauren Ann Lombardi's 14-year-old cat Layla died on August 11 after suffering from congestive heart disease, which the cat mom claims was worsened by noise from the Blue Angels. 'Layla's final days on Earth were marred by sadistic suffering - cowering in terror beneath furniture while her ailing heart struggled against the Blue Angels' relentless noise pollution,' her federal lawsuit said. Lombardi's lawsuit filed in the Western District Court of Washington on Monday alleged that one year before Layla's death, she messaged the Blue Angels on Instagram to complain about the sound, but was blocked by their account. The lawsuit claims, 'Every August, a squadron of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets multirole fighter aircraft descend upon the Puget Sound with the subtlety of a military occupation, conducting screeching low altitude flights with their twin jet engines reaching speeds of over 700 mph.' In August 2023, one year before Layla's passing, Lombardi sent the Blue Angles explicit messages which stated: 'Stop with your f*****g b******t you are terrorizing my cat and all the other animals and wildlife. F**k off' and 'Nobody gives a f**k about your stupid little planes.' A few days later, she attempted to send them another message calling them 'cowards,' but it was never delivered 'due to the blocking,' the lawsuit claims. 'An American citizen exercised her Constitutional right to criticize her government's role in her daughter's suffering,' the filing said. 'In response, a cadre of emotionally fragile snowflakes masquerading as naval officers chose the coward's path: they silenced this citizen's speech, violated their oath to the Constitution, and brought disgrace upon the uniform they claim to honor.' In the summer of 2024, Layla's heart condition worsened and Lombardi said that despite her efforts to block the noise, the Blue Angels' 'sonic barrage' tortured her cat in her final days. 'Even through the narcotic fog of sedation and her weakened state, Layla's primitive limbic system overruled her medication and she fled in primal panic beneath furniture, her labored breathing escalating to clinically dangerous levels,' the lawsuit said. 'Whatever bandwidth Layla's walnut-sized brain could previously gorge upon had been narrowed to a single overwhelming frequency: pure debilitating terror.' Lombardi is seeking to have the Blue Angels unblock her account and told KIRO Newsradio she is willing to do whatever it takes. 'They will never be able to wait me out,' she said. 'I'm a very spiteful, vengeful person. I have nothing but time on my hands.' The lawsuit also states that she is seeking to have her attorney fees covered and 'any additional relief as may be just and proper.' Notably, her attorney is also her husband, Nacim Bouchtia, who is listed as Layla's cat father in her obituary. '[The Blue Angels] continued blocking prevented her from expressing her grief and renewed criticism of the government actions that contributed to her beloved companion's death and suffering, compounding her Constitutional injury during a time when her need for expressive speech was most relevant,' the lawsuit said. 'A year later, when that same vulnerable creature died after enduring yet another sonic assault during her final days on Earth, the Navy's Constitutional betrayal compounded the tragedy — an American remained silenced, unable to voice her grief or otherwise hold her government accountable for its role in her family's suffering.' The Blue Angels next show in Seattle is scheduled for August 2 and August 3 at the Boeing Seafair Air Show, according to their website. On social media, many locals were sympathetic to Lombardi and agreed the noise is less than desirable, but felt the lawsuit was taking it too far. 'It's not the Blue Angels, I'm sorry about your cat but I think it had something going on prior to the show,' one person said. 'I certainly can understand a cat having panic attacks from the noise. I have a cat that is very stressed by fireworks. I think a lawsuit is ridiculous though,' said another. 'I'm a cat person. I feel bad for her cat… but this is… a bit much,' said a third.
BBC News
24-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Man to soundproof home over Leeds Bradford Airport night flight noise
A man living beneath an airport flightpath has said he is soundproofing his home due to being "woken during the night" by Hemmingway lives in Otley near Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), which was told this week it must limit the number of night flights it Hemmingway said he was installing acoustic glass in his bedroom windows to reduce the noise from said it was working with Leeds City Council, which enforces night flight rules, to "determine the best path forward". Mr Hemmingway is a member of the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA), which claimed the airport had breached its night flights limit in each of the past three is currently permitted 2,920 take-offs and landings between 23:00 and 07:00 during the summer, and 1,200 in the bosses had wanted newer aircraft to be exempt from the cap, as well as smaller planes and flights which had been delayed.A public inquiry took place in March and April to determine the legal meaning of the night-time flying rules, after which Leeds City Council issued a Breach of Condition Notice against LBA. The airport then made three applications to the council to persuade it to reinterpret the meaning of the local night flight planning conditions, making a large number of its planes exempt from the council rejected the appeal on Hemmingway, who moved to his property with his wife two years ago, said the planes "wake us during the night and then we get a clutch of flights around about 6 in the morning, if we haven't been woken before then"."Usually there are flights through the night, around 2am as well."He said the disruption was worse than they had expected. "It can happen two or three times in the night, and sometimes you get back to sleep and sometimes you don't," he said the soundproofing measures would be installed next week."The windows are being replaced, the windows in the bedroom are going to be acoustic glass, which is much more expensive."It is a special glass that has a coating on it, that distorts the sound signal from the plane, so that you don't hear it through the window." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
