Heat pumps leave Norfolk residents raging over '24-hour noise nuisance'
Residents have said they are unable to open their windows without hearing the noise polluting devices
Getty/Google Street Vie
A secondary school in Norfolk and residents who live near it are at loggerheads over the school’s “very noise” eco-pumps.
Locals residing near Reepham High School said the pumps that are used to heat classrooms are a “24-hour noise nuisance”.
Residents have said they are unable to open their windows without hearing the noise polluting devices.
The eco-pumps operate by absorbing heat from the air and are powered by renewable resources instead of fossil fuels.
The school's headteacher Tim Gibbs said it "remains compliant" with the installation of the pumps
Google Street View
Mark Bridges, a local Reepham resident, said the pumps are a constant nuisance for their community.
He placed blame with Broadland District Council for allowing the devices to be installed without assessing the impact on noise pollution.
Bridges said: “They are very noisy. They are a 24-hour noise nuisance.”
It is understood that planning permission was only sought once the pumps had already been installed.
NEIGHBOUR ROW:
Residents wrote to their MP Jerome Mayhew
Wikemedia Commons
Locals have claimed that they were told that the pumps would be turned off during holidays.
However, when the pumps were left on, residents decided to get in touch with their MP to try and resolve the problem.
Jerome Mayhew MP said: "Whilst I welcome the school’s efforts to reduce the carbon impact of their heating system, this needs to be done in a way that is considerate to their neighbours and compliant with the planning system.
"I will continue to help local residents to make sure their concerns are properly considered."
Locals have claimed that they were told that the pumps would be turned off during holidays
Flickr
The school's headteacher Tim Gibbs said it "remains compliant" with the installation of the pumps.
However, he did sympathise with the disturbances they are causing: "While I am sympathetic to the complaints raised by our neighbours, we have responded to all of their concerns and remain compliant in everything we have done with the installation of the air source heat pumps."
The complaints from residents have been investigated by the council.
It said they are "working with all parties" in order to "move forwards" with solving the problem.