Stonehouse factory noise leaves residents at 'breaking point'

One resident said the noise was giving her headaches

Residents are taking action against a dairy company who they claim have not complied with a noise abatement order.

People living in Stonehouse say they are at "breaking point" after living with industrial machinery noise for more than a year.

They say they are sleep deprived and stressed.

Stroud District Council said: "We understand residents' concerns and have been working hard with the company to try and resolve the issue."

The noise stems from a refrigeration unit behind Dairy Partners' cheese factory who are now erecting panels to try to cut the noise.

A spokesperson for Dairy Partners said it is "fully committed to consistent adherence to noise limits contracted to by our suppliers, agreed to with planning authorities and rightly expected by our immediate neighbours".

"We appreciate their frustration at the time it has taken us to get there.

"While efforts to date have brought us closer, we are confident that further extensive cladding and silencing efforts commenced last month will achieve noise objectives by the end of November 2023," they added.

Louise Oldfield, a Stonehouse resident, said: "Initially, I didn't know what it was.

"I thought it was my hearing that was the problem, but it turns out it was the cheese factory down the road from us."

She asked on Facebook whether anyone else in her area could hear the noise.

"So many people came to me and said: 'It's awful, it's having a big effect on my life'," Ms Oldfield said.

Residents say noise from the factory has kept them awake and left them at "breaking point"

"It's a high-pitched sound and there's a humming noise that comes with it as well. Sometimes it sounds like you're near an airport.

"I've had headaches myself and I know other people have struggled to sleep.

"Another neighbour recently had a baby and hasn't been able to settle her baby."

Her and other residents have decided to take legal action against the company, asking for compensation and an apology from Dairy Partners.

"There is anger. We feel let down, we're disappointed that the council didn't act in the way they should have done," Ms Oldfield said.

A Dairy Partners spokesperson said its objective has always been for noise levels to remain permanently under the agreed 40 decibel limit set for its facility.

The said: "This is a few decibels above baseline ambient noise levels with considerably higher levels experienced with passing nearby trains.

"Our plans and supplier commitments were for immediate compliance, and we apologise for the time it has taken us to achieve target."

A Stroud District Council spokesperson said: "We understand residents' concerns and have been working hard with the company to try and resolve the issue.

"The planning permission granted in September requires physical screening to be completed by December which should mitigate the noise.

"Residents and all Stonehouse ward councillors have been kept fully informed of developments in this case, and this will continue.

"As this remains an open case the council is unable to comment in any more detail."

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