Neighbors from hell(mand)

[BicMac]

Hi, probably wrong place, but, I am completely miffed with my neighbors, They are convert property next to mine to a fast food establishment, they have put in for planning permission, to build a small store room to back of building, and run some ducting, along an existing wall, with a flue about 2m above existing wall height at the end of the property, But what they have actually done, is dragged two shipping containers upto building, welded them together, fitted a nice door on the side, and whacked all ventalation,motors and silencers, about half way along top, and about twice as high as what was agreed by the LBA, and about the half the length,

Its quite hard to describe, so I have attempted to upload a modify version of the actual planning application, up top, is what was agreed, below, is my effort of replicating the actual installation.

I think owners are Pakistani, and the "contractors" seem Turkish or Romany, motor supply seems to be in grey flat 3core and earth, clipped direct on top of shipping container in direct sunlight, and managed to completely miss the blind grommet in the terminal housing, and is sited through an unprotected knockout with no additional protection or support, all i can see of the electrical installation.

We have about 2m high fence, and the "installation" is about a meter and half away from it, we have lost a large portion of our horizon to this metallic nessie-like contraption, and are quite likely be subjected to the noise of the fans once they open up the shop, the fans were meant to be inside the new extension they didnt build.

What can I do about it? seems ludicrous they will put all the money and effort into building this.

Cheers Round4

 

[pushrod]

If the building does not match the plans, or you are not happy in any way contact the local building control and possibly environmental health re the ventilation and posible noise/smell.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Get onto the Local Building Control, tell them you are concerned that the work does not appear to be as the plans have shown. They will send an Inspector out, and charge them for the priveledge, and stop the work if need be.. If you put up with it, then complain later, you may well lose out if they need to apply for retrospective planning permission because you have put up with it for so long.

It really pi**** me off when ethnics of all races come here and think they can do what the hell they want to.


In a nutshell act NOW.

Cheers.........Howard

 

[Paul.M]

They have broken planning permissions for the height and the location of noise producing fans. Call your LBA first thing in the morning, get him/her to see this ASAP and they should be made to take it down if its blocking your view, blocking sun light, making too much noise. Good luck and keep us informed.



Beaten by Pushrod and Sirkitbreaker again.


Ps I know that noise harmonics is a big deal in any building application for external fans and the like, push the inspector on that one.

 

[KFH]

You have to get onto your local planning authority about the change to what was agreed and onto building control about the wiring, but as it is not domestic they will probably not be interested. You could try HSE about the risk of shock from T&E going through a hole in metal without grommet and the probabilty that the electrical supply to the shipping containers is not properly earthed/bonded. Environmental Health may also be interested due to the change in the vent outlet causing additional noise and smell. I would send them all photos and objections by recorded delivery.

 

[Engineer54]

If what is going in, doesn't comply with the plans that have been approved then you contact the planning officer and get it sorted, ....Sooner rather than later too!!! This is Typical of our Asian friends i'm afraid, anything to save a few pence, doesn't matter what it looks like or any standards or regulations being ----ed aside, ...safety?? ...What the hell is that all about then ...lol!!!

A typical **** take of the system....

 

[mogga]

doesnt matter if its commercial or domestic still has to comply with current regs under HSAW as for harmonics or wot ever its called mounting fans,vent on top of a container has just created a luvley big resonance chamber for the noise to amplify its like the living beside a railway you dont hear the noise during the day but at night you seem to hear it more due to their beng less ambiant noise aroind to soften it

 

[alarm man]

they have deviated from the plans,and it doesnt look nice.you need to report it,the fact that its asian's shouldn't be a part of the argument..

 

[BicMac]

this is awful, its getting worse by the day, I have been onto council, who informed they will be sending a strongly worded letter, that was 3 weeks ago, no changes next door, they continues to beat and cut metal all day Sundays , environmental health I have tried, the local electricity and gas boards, a long shot, I even called the police lol ,and immigration .

They construction skills of the one man band welder/builder/plumber/electrician/shopfitter/gasfitter next door are laughable, He fixed a ceiling through the top of the container, grinded off the nails, and siliconed them "water tight", he has a new gutter, that dips to middle behind his container with like a 150mm section missing, and no where for it to run as the container is flush to wall, he has energized his installation, with no bonding connected, can see a 10mm quite "close", but not actually connected to the gas and water , is what looks like a power circuit wrapped around what looks like a cctv shotgun cable, being supported by 70mm woodscrew(is ballanced on the threads, so shouldnt slip off )

He has put some nice untreated softwood door frames in, with some nice untreated plywood doors. and this is just the 2% of the installation work that is blatantly visible as i walk to my home, I am uploading some pictures, they are brutal, the one with the railings, has the fancy cable support system, and can see the random 4 inch gap in the gutter behind that

 

[pennywise]

I would be taking him to court for devaluing my property!!

 

[Geoff]

Tell your local Gypsies that there's some unwanted Galv Ducting and two large containers that need to be taken away urgently between 3-5 AM!!!

 

[Paul.M]

Get a copy of their application for building from the lbc and check off how many deviations they have done then present this to your lbc. It might get the ball rolling for you.

 

[BicMac]

Ok, been back onto the LBC, the planning guy has said they have been told to "stop" , and they are ignoring him, he has informed them this will be very expensive for them in court and they will have to take it down anyway, he has suggested I contact my local councilperson , so will be trying that next I guess.

 

[KFH]

Once the LBC have issed a stop notice and told them to remove it they shuold be doing all the work. Suggesting you contact your councillor seems redundant. I would however contact them to ensure they put pressure on building control to keep on chasing the stop and remove notice. I would also phone building control every week as well to keep the pressure on. If they are like my LBC/planning they are happy to let things drift in the hope they will go away. On one occasion they did chuck someone in jail for not removing a mobile home from his garden, while at the same time allowing travellers on the other side of the road, planning permision in the green belt for a mobile home, caravans and stables

 

[pushrod]

First strong wind and that chimney/ducting looks like it's going to be down - it is already well off vertical.

Phone, phone, email and phone again. LBC, councillors, MP, newspaper anyone who can have an influence - make them want to get it sorted so that you will stop pestering them. Think Andy Dufresne's library requests in the Sureshank redemption.