Bridgnorth residents’ noise fears on factory equipment
A council has expressed its support for a new plant in a factory – but residents are objecting over fears it will increase noise.
Bridgnorth Aluminium has submitted plans to Shropshire Council for the plant at its site on Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth.
The company employs about 300 people at its site and has operated since 2001.
The plans say that the new proposed filter equipment will “provide more effective and efficient cleaning of existing fumes” and would “reduce the emission of hydrocarbons to an extremely low level”.
The plans add that Bridgnorth Aluminium is “conscious that noise is a particular issue” affecting neighbours and is “committed to taking every reasonable step to mitigate this”.
It adds that the newer equipment will replace the older equipment and reduce the noise levels produced on the site.
The plans say that the new equipment would “ensure that Bridgnorth become more sustainable” by “safeguarding the future viability of Bridgnorth Aluminium Ltd” and the jobs of the 300 employees.
But residents are concerned that the plans would increase noise which they say is already an issue.
One resident spoke at Bridgnorth Town Council’s meeting on Tuesday.
She said: “We’re here to raise awareness of the noise issues emanating from Bridgnorth Aluminium. Their planning statement suggests everything is fine but for years now the local residents have been disturbed day and night to the extent that environmental agencies have been involved over the last few years helping us to reduce noise.
“Noise which monitors regularly fail to pick up. The noise disturbs neighbours.
“We’re a small community with a lot of elderly people. For years we’ve had issues especially at night.
“Their land has expanded significantly over the last 10 years.
“We accept Bridgnorth Aluminium helps the local community but there needs to be a balance between big businesses and small residents.”
There are also six comments from resident objecting to the plans on the planning application. Councillor Connie Baines said: “We can hear the noise from where we live, I can hear the doors banging or crashing at night, if you live closer then you must be able to hear it.”
Sarah Barlow said: “Although they’re saying it’ll be quiet we won’t know whether it will until it goes up.”
Councillor David Cooper said: “We should approve the principle of the development subject to satisfactory report from Shropshire Council public protection on appropriate condition to mitigate noise.” Councillors voted unanimously to support the plans subject to a report to mitigate noise.
