From July 2007 onwards residents of Anick and Oakwood have experienced unacceptable levels of noise from the new Egger plant. These have been moderated by actions taken by Egger following intervention by Tynedale District Council, but noise levels remain too high – and above the levels permitted by the planning conditions for the plant. However, the outcome is still awaited of further actions beginning 1 October to implement the recommendations of a survey by noise consultants employed by Egger and the effect of finally closing down the old plant, currently expected during October.

If you would like to read it the Tynedale District Council Planning approval for the new Egger factory can be downloaded from [here]

You can log any noise intrusions online by clicking this link [Log it!]

The debate goes public (Hexham Courant)
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Oct 03 2007 at 10:32 pm
Noise levels >>

29 September 2007
FOR PUBLICATION
The Editor
Hexham Courant

Dear Sir

Noise from Egger

Your correspondent A.T.Pickering (Letters, 21 Sept) is right to point out the economic benefits of the Egger plant and ways in which the screening of the new plant could be improved, but is wrong in asserting bleakly that we all have to await the onset of deafness for some relief from the recent  excessive noise.

Environmental law gives the Council the general right and obligation to control excessive noise, and this duty is acknowledged in Tynedale Council policy statements. Specific planning conditions imposed by Tynedale Council, and accepted by Egger in building the new plant, forbid high noise levels at any time, with tighter limits at night, a ban on noise with any “discernible tonal character or impulse character” and restrictions on the use of vehicle reversing alarms at night – precisely to protect residents, visitors and others. Maximum noise levels and measurement sites are set out in the planning approval for the factory.

Egger has invested heavily in a new state-of-the-art plant which was expected and intended to reduce all kinds of pollution, including noise, as well as increase efficiency. Unfortunately, since the commissioning of the new plant began, all the noise conditions have nonetheless been breached repeatedly. Banging, crashing and reversing alarms from the plant have often been audible at night. There has been a persistent roar from the plant, and sometimes vibration so severe that it rattled the windows of some houses in Oakwood for hours at a time (as well as shaking the walls of the factory). Individual residents and Sandhoe Parish Council have complained.  Another Courant correspondent (Letters, 7 Sept) suggests previous noise problems also remain unresolved.

Egger’s bland response to complaints has been that it will take some time to train staff and achieve “smooth running”. But in fact, following intervention by Tynedale Council Environmental Officers, Egger has already taken some steps which have partly moderated the noise and has received a substantial new report from noise consultants. Residents are hoping that remedial work beginning 1 October and closedown of the old plant soon after will end the noise nuisances. But if not, then Egger must (and surely will wish to?) respond - just as they did over complaints about light pollution - so that within a reasonable time the noise is entirely within the defined limits and Council permission for continued operation of the plant is assured.

Residents have set up their own monitoring scheme. Anyone wishing to keep up to date on progress may consult the internet web-page about the Egger situation which the Council has helpfully set up at the request of residents (http://www.tynedale.gov.uk/residents/serviceinfo.asp?type=456) and a residents’ web-site (http://www.sandhoe.ukpc.net/).

Yours sincerely
Ian Winkworth