Evercreech, Shepton Mallet, UK: Peter Green Chilled is facing an informal hearing with its local council following complaints from nearby residents about noise from truck mounted fridge units.
Last September Mendip District Council gave the company three months to sort out the issues following numoperous complainst from local residents about fridge enhibe noise and diesel fumes.
The long-running problems stem from trucks with refrigerated units carrying chilled products turning up on site but unable to hook into the company’s electrical power supply
It is the noise from the running engines, plus diesel fumes, that have led to a long-running impasse between angry residents and the company.
Planning permission for Peter Green Chilled’s new manufacturing and storage premises at the site was granted in 2007. But one of the main conditions was that all parked vehicles with refrigeration units should connect to the provided electrical power supply at all times – to prevent any noise nuisance for neighbours.
Following complaints from neighbours Mendip District Council served a breach of condition notice on the firm. The company submitted an application to vary that condition – to allow vehicles without hook-up facilities to still arrive and run their engines – but in a designated parking area.
Also crucial to solving the noise problems was the completion of a bund and fence round the site which would go a long way to shield neighbours from the noise. Councillors refused to allow the variation of the condition and served notice on Peter Green Chilled, giving the firm three months to sort the problems out.
The company lodged an appeal against that refusal of permission which was to be dealt with through written representations. But this week it was announced the Planning Inspectorate will now deal with the matter through an informal hearing instead. This will be held on 21 August at the Mendip District Council Offices.
