FUMING residents who live next to a sex toy factory are taking action after complaining of horrendous noises at 4am in the morning.
Lovehoney in Bath, has been forced to apply for restrospective planning permission for four heat pumps it has installed at its warehouse.
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The company, which specialises in sex toys, lingerie, bondage kits and condoms, was founded in Bath in 2002.
It quickly grew and moved into a warehouse the following year.
But disgruntled locals have now been left angered after they switched on the pumps at 4am every day.
Planning documents show they were measured at 16 decibels louder than background noise.
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A noise impact assessment carried out by acoustic consultant Chris Parker-Jones has now recommended the offending units are housed in acoustic enclosures.
In his report, he added: “It is understood that some of the surrounding residential properties have complained to Bath and North East Somerset Council about the level of noise, who have subsequently required this NIA to be produced.”
He said the required level of reduction would not be achieved simply by moving them, changing to a quieter alternative or installing a barrier or fence around them.
He added: “The applicant should, therefore, look to rehouse the offending units within an acoustic enclosure/enclosures, and submit updated plans and a datasheet to the Local Planning Authority from the enclosure manufacturer which verifies that it can reduce noise emissions by a minimum of 16dB.”
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Gary Box, of Lovehoney, said the application was to install a heating and cooling system that is replacing a temporary gas boiler and electric chiller.
He wrote: “The units are standalone Government approved air source heat pump.
“This has been installed to reduce both our energy consumption and carbon footprint.
“This has also been done to make Lovehoney a more sustainable company.
“By doing this we have removed gas consumption not to use fossil fuels anymore.”
A decision on the application will be made by Bath and North East Somerset Council at a later date.
LoveHoney and Bath and North East Somerset Council have been approached for comment.
Six ways to deal with noisy neighbours
Around 1,000 cases of noisy neighbours were forwarded to councils across the country every day.
Mary Rouse, who is a a property litigation lawyer at wrighthassall.co.uk, shares her advice for dealing with noisy neighbours.
1) Stay calm. It is important to approach the situation in a reasonable manner. Explain to your neighbour the impact their noise is having on you, as they may not realise.
2) Practise what you preach. If you complain to them on a regular basis, it is important they cannot bring up any similar arguments against you in response. Keep your own household noise levels to a minimum.
3) Keep recordings. If your neighbours are not listening to your concerns, document the times they are being disruptive. It is important in case you need to complain to your local authority.
4) Consider soundproofing. Simple sound-proofing can often make a bad situation a bit more bearable. From using rugs, carpets and soft furnishings to absorb sound to installing specialist tiles in ceilings and party walls, there are lots of affordable options available.
5) Do not retaliate. Never let frustration get the better of you. Sometimes it feels as though the only way to solve the issue is to retaliate and play loud music or be disruptive in some other way. But this is only going to escalate the issue and will count against you further down the line.
6) Seek legal help. If you cannot resolve a situation yourself, make a complaint to your local authority first. If this does not work, seek legal help.
