Man kept awake 'for months' by noisy manhole cover

Muhammad Masud has been complaining about the manhole cover for months

A man "has not been able to get a good night sleep for months" due to the constant clanking sound coming from a loose manhole cover.

Muhammad Ashir Masud, 49, who lives in Derby Road, Gloucester, some 30 metres (98 ft) away from the manhole, wants the issue to be sorted.

City Councillor Usman Bhaimia also spoke out about the noisy manhole cover, which is located on the junction where Barton Street meets Derby Road.

A spokesperson for Severn Trent said they are aware of the problem and apologised that the issue has taken "so long to fix".

The authority is in the process of scheduling works to replace the cover, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But the works cannot come soon enough for Mr Masud.

The manhole cover is located on the junction where Barton Street meets Derby Road and Hopewell Street

“I have been complaining about this for months.

“I can’t sleep. I live next to it. Every night I wake up because of it. I live about 20 to 30 metres from there. The sound of it ‘clank, clank, clank’ goes on every night.

“I’ve raised it with my councillor and I’m going to raise it with Gloucester’s MP. The manhole cover sounds loose and it could cause an accident with many injuries.

“It’s been a problem for four or five months now. It’s almost like a drum. All day and all night," he said.

'Nuisance to residents'

A Severn Trent spokesperson added: “We understand that the loose manhole cover must be a nuisance to residents in the Hopewell Street and Derby Road area and we are sorry it has taken so long to fix.

“We have carried out investigations and are in the process of scheduling works to replace the cover and we will get this done as quickly as possible.”