Residents are locked in a bitter row with their local Sainsbury’s supermarket over “deafening” night-time construction work which is making their lives hell.
People living in Blackpole, Worcester, say they haven’t slept for a week because of continuous loud drilling noises and banging coming from the store.
Julia Gibbs said the “horrific” situation has led to her family suffering from migraines and she’s nearly called in sick for work due to a lack of sleep.
The store is undergoing a range of changes but tired neighbours have described the noise from heavy machinery as “excessive drilling” and “sounding like a bomb”.
Sainsbury’s says it has been carrying out the work between 8pm and 5.30am in a bid to “avoid disruption” to its customers.
Julia said: “It is constant, so it’s so invasive, and you try to get to sleep, but you cannot. It is non-stop – it’s absolutely horrific.
“You cannot cope without sleep. It is hard to put into words as it’s so excessive.
“It makes your brain feel frazzled and I can still hear the drilling in my head during the day.
“It has got to the point where I want to stay in the office or a hotel because I do not want to go back to the house.”
Residents have raised the issue with the Regulatory Service, Environmental Health and Worcester City Council councillor Jill Desayrah.
Cllr Desayrah has been acting as a liaison between residents and Environmental Health and said she is “extremely disappointed” with Sainsbury’s.
Previously, a spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said they had issued apologies to residents but Cllr Desayrah said this has not been the case.
She added: “I would not like to fight with Sainsbury’s, but I will support my residents.
“It is annoying how they have decided to treat residents.
“I know they do not want to do the noisy work when their customers are in but why use residents as collateral damage?”
Cllr Ed Kimberley, fellow councillor for Warndon and Elbury Park, added: “Companies have clearly learnt that the law on noise pollution is lax, and are taking full advantage of night-time hours to speed ahead with work so they can open their doors to trade that much sooner.
Gemma Smith and Sophie Wood were engaged in a weekly feud for a year over their wheelie bins.
When Gemma moved next door to Sophie, 34, who is unemployed, in November 2020 they were civil to one another.
Gemma, who is single and doesn’t work due to stress, says: “Sophie seemed nice and we’d stop and exchange pleasantries.
“But it all changed at the beginning of 2022, when Sophie’s bin was full and she put her rubbish bag in mine.
“I took it out and put it on top of her bin.
“It fell off, gulls pecked at it and there was rubbish everywhere.”
Both women refused to clear up the mess, claiming it was the other one’s fault.
Gemma says: “I felt so angry.
“There was cat litter spread all over my drive — it was absolutely disgusting and we ended up shouting at each other.
“We were both as bad as each other — we’d walk past each other and I’d tell her she was a lazy cow and to clean up after herself.
“We’d scream insults at each other.”
Within six months Sophie had set up a CCTV camera and threatened to report Gemma to the council.
In retaliation, Gemma set up the baby monitor — which can record video — to try to pin more wrongdoing on Sophie.
Then last July Sophie spotted Gemma in tears on her doorstep following a burglary at her home.
Gemma says: “Sophie came straight round and asked if there was anything she could do.
“We are now the best of friends and help each other out all the time.”
“But it is have an unacceptable effect on our residents lives.
“Last night I was contacted by a family who had been left unable to open their windows, with their children unable to sleep in the week they were sitting crucial exams.”
Sainsbury’s is working on refurbishing its Blackpole supermarket with a new in-store Argos, flooring and food ranges.
The work is expected to last several months.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We wrote to residents to make them aware of the works and that we have taken steps to minimise potential noise and disruption, with approval from the local Environmental Health Officer.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and we will continue to do our best to minimise disruption.”
If you’re having a problem with noise like loud music, noisy pubs, rowdy parties or barking dogs in your neighbourhood, your council can help you.
What you need to know
You can search for your local council to report a noise nuisance in England and Wales.
Your council has a duty to investigate any statutory nuisance.
Penalties
If the council decides someone is causing a statutory noise nuisance they must issue a ‘noise abatement’ order.
This tells the person what they must do to stop making a noise nuisance or else face further legal action.
