'This constantly clunking manhole is driving us mad'

Perry Palmer said he was fed-up with the constant noise from the manhole cover

Constant clunking noises caused by cars careering over a loose manhole cover in Nottinghamshire are driving residents to distraction.

The metal manhole on the A52 Derby Road in Beeston reportedly first worked its way loose last summer and was eventually "repaired" - only for the loud banging sounds to start again in December.

Residents who live along the busy road say it's become impossible to escape from the noise and they've been left suffering sleepless nights, even when they wear earplugs or move to a different room.

Openreach has apologised and vowed to fix the problem permanently, but says contractors need a permit and to put up temporary lights before any work can start.

Eithne Gallagher, 48, who has lived in Derby Road since 2001, said: "You can hear it in the back of the house, you can hear it in the garden, during the summer you can't have the windows open because of the amount of traffic going over it.

"It is a constant, 24 hours a day, banging.

"I'm a nurse at Nottingham City Hospital and I work in a very busy unit, and my sleep is affected."

Neighbour Paul Johnston, 49, who has lived on Derby Road for 13 years, said: "Even when using earplugs, I'm currently sleeping on the floor of my lounge at the back of my house - and I live 60 metres away from the cover.

"It started last summer and then again in December, only three months after the 'repair'. I contacted Openreach about the reoccurrence on 4 January 2025.

"I've contacted them multiple times. They always say that it's going to be sorted soon."

'Extremely irritating'

Perry Palmer, who also lives in Derby Road, said: "It is keeping us awake and we're having to move bedrooms into the back of the house, but my wife is disabled and the doctor said she's got to stay downstairs, so we're struggling to do that."

Mr Palmer, 64, said: "I have made repeated requests to Openreach to mend it, and you don't get any answer whatsoever.

"I keep texting, I keep e-mailing. I just get 'someone will contact you soon', there is no response whatsoever which is extremely irritating.

"We live on the A52 and I'm aware that it is a noisy road, we can deal with that, but it's the thumping every time a car hits it, like at four o'clock when everyone starts going to work, it is repeated and it is bad."

Mr Palmer has contacted Openreach, which is responsible for maintaining the manhole cover

A spokesperson for Openreach said: "We understand how frustrating this is for people nearby and apologise that it's taking longer than it should.

"The damaged cable chamber is situated on a busy road, so we have a permit lodged with the local highways authority to allow our contractors to work there next week.

"They will have everything ready to get it fixed, using temporary traffic lights to keep themselves safe as they work."