We’ve been in contact, on behalf of residents on Nithsdale Rd, over the last few days with the engineering contractors working on the ground consolidation works. We’re pleased to say they responded really quickly to the issues we raised and have suggested a number of solutions. To give you an idea of the issues we raised and their response (in quotes):
1) The two-storey portable offices block out a great deal of light for residents in the blocks next to it on the north side of Nithsdale Rd.
“The whole reasoning behind the double stacking of the cabins around the mixing area is to offer as much protection as possible to residents and pedestrians from our works by reducing noise, dust and by providing a physical barrier. We believe that the advantages far outweigh any disadvantages..we will be more than happy to install temporary lighting for the close entrances and have already progressed the procurement of such.”
2) Cyclists used to using the cycle lane on Nithsdale Rd are now using the pavement. The Society has requested signage to remind cyclists the lane is no longer in use.
The company are in touch with GCC to resolve this problem.
3) We have also had several complaints about the noise coming from the generator at night.
“Unfortunately this has to run all night as, for obvious reason, we have a security presence. We have contacted the supplier who assures us that as it is a brand new generator it is as quiet as they come. We are therefore going to construct an acoustic housing for it.”
We’re also meeting with city councillors, the chair of the community council and Brian Parr next week to discuss the plans for the back lanes. In the meantime, here’s a picture of how the street used to look.
We’re meeting with Brian Parr, Irfan Rabbani and the chair of the Community Council tomorrow to discuss the works and proposed reinstatement of the back lanes. We’ll be reporting back at the Society meeting on Monday.
Is anyone else in the area struggling with the noise from the batching plant?
In the past couple of weeks, I’ve had considerable trouble sleeping, no doubt as a result of the constant growl of the generator (inadequately boxed in), and there’s no chance to sleep it off in the morning as the clattering starts well before 8am (even on Saturdays) and the infernal bleeping of the digger shortly after that. Two thousand years of evolution and man’s inability to notice a large, yellow vehicle reversing towards him means that a whole neighbourhood has to be terrorised. I curse the JCB research department for their ‘innovation’.
Hi Tess, don’t worry you are not alone. Contractors have done their best with the housing but as it is a diesel generator fumes need to escape and if fumes can get out, so can noise! The reason for the double-height storage containers is partly to reduce dust and noise for residents right next to the batching plant but it doesn’t help those slightly further up the road. Unfortunately it’s one thing I don’t think they can do very much about.
As for all the reversing machinery, some good news is that they are confident Queen Sq will be complete by Christmas and they won’t start on RPS until January, so there should be a quieter couple of weeks, plus more parking spaces for residents!