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Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:44 pm
by lutonlagerlout
hi did a bit of a late one tonight trying to do the steps for the patio that we laid saturday
(couldn't do the brickwork sunday due to downpour)
anyway i was cutting the flags at 6.34pm
and the neighbour from 3 doors up runs round and starts making all sorts of threats
i.e.1 stop it now or i will get it stopped.(unspecific threat)
2 i have a 2 year old daughter(to which i replied "snap" which didn't help much)
3 you are not allowed to make a noise in a residential area after 5 pm
4 take those earmuffs off and listen to me
all said while screaming and red in the face
anyway what i am wondering is ,is there specific laws that spell out when you can work and till what time??
as i am selfemployed if i choose to work 12 hr days surely thats my choice??
if the guy had come out and said "what time will you be done mate? my lil 'un cant get to sleep " i would have been more conivial,as it stands he has just made himself look a bit silly
any answers gratefully received
thanks
tony ???
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:54 pm
by Dave_L
Cutting with a saw @ 6.34pm? Doesn't seem to be a problem to me, I've done it myself, even at 10am on a Sunday morning!
I perhaps wouldn't make too much noise (like a saw) past 7pm really. 6.30pm is OK in my books!
Not aware of working hour legislation re:noise but I'm sure somebody else will.......
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:12 pm
by Stuarty
Im almost certain its 8pm for some reason. Dont specifically quote me on that but im sure its then. I think your best bet is to get intouch with your council.
I hate those people who cant be civil about such things, at the end of the day we are all just trying to earn a living.
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:24 pm
by Dave_L
Taken from a New Zealand council website.......not sure how ours differs.....
The table below shows permitted noise levels from construction work within residential areas:
Day Time
L10* at any affected property
Monday - Friday 7.30am - 6.00pm 75 dBA
Monday - Friday 6.00pm - 8.00pm 70 dBA
Saturday 7.30am - 6.00pm 75 dBA
Sunday & Public Holidays Noisy construction is not permitted
* - L10 refers to a noise level which can only be exceeded for 10 percent of the time.
For example, L1075 dBA means that over a 30 minute period, the noise may only go above 75 dBA for three minutes.
Contractors should check their Resource Consent for any extra conditions such as restrictions on hours of operation.
The following are examples of noise levels measured in decibels (dBA):
140 dBA Pneumatic Rock Breaker
120 dBA Compactor
110 dBA Fork Lift Truck
105 dBA 20 tonne Dump Truck
95 dBA Oxyacetylene welder
80 dBA Electric Drill (1 metre)
75 dBA Loud Radio
60 dBA Department Store
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:33 pm
by lutonlagerlout
thanks for the responses,its such an unusual one i was a bit flummoxed,i will contact enviromental health in the morning.
the last time was when i parked on a shared drive, and opened my door so that it hung over next doors drive by 10mm
that lady started effing about solicitors etc. so i asked her with hundreds of babies dying of malnutrition,disease etc. every day in africa,what world is she living on???
all we are trying to do is earn a living and feed and clothe our families
its not like i was having a rave!
btw house in question is 70 m from the midland mainline railway line,maybe he should tell british rail to keep it down too
rofl
tony 
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:38 pm
by Stuarty
Let us know how you get on, always handy to know these things i feel 
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:00 am
by lutonlagerlout
enviromental health have informed me that working hours are
7 till 7 weekdays
8 till 1 saturday
0 hrs sundays and bank holidays
thats their definitive answer
regards tony
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:32 am
by Stuarty
atleast we all know now
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:47 pm
by TarmacLady
Pity you've gone and finished the job...would have made your day to be able to calmly take off your earmuffs, wait for him to breathe, and let him know that EH had given you permission to work til 7.
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:15 am
by Suggers
'ang on a minute you lot - give half a second consideration to the poor bloke, whose trying to get his baby to settle down to sleep, his missus has dashed off to her evening pottery class, - probably having a wonderful affair with her tutor - then you have some 17stone huge geezer,from Luton, cutting slabs at 6.40pm. - how would you feel....
After great consultation - in The George & Dragon, Chesham -
....all billders have shouted you can grind away 'til 8.00 pm.
But, we don't - Respect.
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:00 am
by lutonlagerlout
point taken suggers but what about the client who want their patio finished for a party in 3 days,plus apparently the guy had polish builders in last year himself and they were working till 10 at night (neighbours told me this)
i knocked on his door to inform him of the law and he sent his wife to the door
thats the kind of man he is i suppose.....
tony 
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:40 pm
by daysleeper
we had a couple of mates with tractors (country living) bring topsoil to a site for us. Only time we could do it was a Saturday so started at 10 finished by 2 probably a total of 15 loads AFAIR. Litteraly drive 40 yards down a street and onto the site dump and drive out. What did we get - formal complaint to the planning department, the council and a bunch of stroppy letters about how saturday is a day of rest. The people complaining were retired so its not as they would have been out if we had done it midweek. :0
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:05 pm
by Suggers
That sounds totally unreasonable - the only band I ever knew not to gig on a saturday were 10CC - for obvious reasons - Sunday is the day of rest.
Have always found that talking to people, and explaining when & why, takes the carpet from under their feet.
Have been known to get a cuppa mid-afternoon, from what would have been really angry neighbours - should be the clients responsibility to pave the way........
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:13 pm
by seanandruby
i work for a large company and in london we cant start till 8.00 and got to be done for 6.00. we have to book in advance when we got a large pour of concrete that takes us over that time. because its a residential area. big fine othewise. maybe small builders different rules?
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:01 pm
by lutonlagerlout
why couldnt 10 cc play on a saturday suggers???
were they watching tottenham per chance
i did a job in radlett a while back and i thought christ this place is quiet on a saturday
it was only later the client told me it was a mainly jewish community so suday gets moved in terms of the sabbath
also i always try and be courteous and helpful to immediate neighbours i.e. "how much to put my pier cap on young man??"
to which my stock reply is "the drakes breakfast"
they then ask what that is ,and i reply a cuppa
if only they knew lol
regards tony
ps london probably has certain rules all of its own, i used to work for ILEA when red ken was in charge ,and the money that was wasted its no wonder the GLC was disbanded,different rules to the rest of us yokels
