I REFER to the letter from Mr Lowe of Hindley Green (Journal Mailbox, June 27 1997).

The basis of the letter was to accuse Wigan MBC Environmental Health Department of doing nothing in response to noise complaints relating to Hindley Green Industrial Estate, and, in particular, informing companies when noise checks were going to take place and not being willing to undertake noise observations after 10pm at night - hence the headline 'Noise starts after 10pm!'.

In taking the matters raised point by point, it is the case that a number of complaints have been received regarding noise from the industrial estate in question.

Each complaint has been investigated and action taken where noise has been proved to be a statutory nuisance or breach of planning conditions.

There are, however, a number of potential noise sources on the estate and it is simply not a matter of a single noise creating a problem, but a general raise in the background level due to a concentration of smaller noise sources from the area as a whole.

Recently in an attempt to identify individual noise sources and separate those that are the more predominant, we have undertaken sound level readings with various pieces of plant and equipment switched on and off.

Obviously to do this it is necessary to get the cooperation of the companies concerned and therefore prior arrangements were made. However, whenever investigating noise complaints to determine whether there is a problem in the first place, we do not normally let the alleged perpetrator know that we are taking the observations. To do so would not only be unprofessional it would be incredibly stupid.

With regard to noise observations not being undertaken after 10pm, this is simply not the case. It is true we do not have a 24 hour on-call service, except for essential emergency cover. However, we do regularly undertake noise observations at all times of the day and night, including the early hours of the morning. We do not do this, however, if the information we need can be obtained during the day or by automatic monitoring equipment left at secure sites overnight.

Finally, I would point out that legal notices have been served in this particular case to reduce noise from a particular premises and other sources continue to be investigated.

R.D.Saunders

Borough Environmental Health and Consumer Officer

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