More silent nights for residents
Residents in the Forest Gate area of Wilden
will be getting more silent nights following action taken by Wyre
Forest District Council.
The authority took legal action against
Smethwick Drop Forge Limited after it issued a noise abatement
notice. Residents had complained to the Council about
excessive noise from the plant which produces parts for the motor
industry.
Worcester Magistrates Court heard the company
had installed a new automated production process using two Lasco
forge hammers. The authority maintained that this
resulted in a noise nuisance for the residents in Forest
Gate. The hearing was told that the authority had suggested
three options for reducing the noise. The company informed
the authority that due to the manufacturing process two of the
solutions would not work. Cladding of the whole premises was
the only option. Smethwick Drop Forge Limited reported it would
cost £400,000+ and that was not practicable due to the financial
implications. The hearing was told this would lead to the
directors having to wind up the company and the loss of 57
jobs.
Following the hearing Smethwick Drop Forge
Limited made an agreement with the authority to change its shift
patterns. The company will now ensure that there will not be
a night shift (7pm-7am) for 4 consecutive nights out of every 8
instead of every 16. The company also committed to save
for the cladding work to help reduce the noise produce by the Lasco
forges.
Councillor John Campion, Leader of Wyre Forest
District Council said “We understand the nuisance that the noise is
causing for the residents and that is why we took the action.
We are pleased that they’ve agreed to change the nightshift work
patterns. We are also sensitive to the needs of
businesses. As part of the agreement we allowed Smethwick
Drop Forge to give us notice to increase the nightshift if needed
to meet commercial production requirements. We are also going
to be meeting with them every 6 months to monitor the progress
they’ve made in reducing the noise.”
Date of issue 15 June 2010
