A convenience store in Cardiff has been ordered to pay over £2,000 for excessive noise coming from a refrigerator condenser unit at their business in Ely.
The owner of
Fisher Convenience Store on Michaelston Road was sentenced at Cardiff
Magistrates’ Court last Friday (March 28) for failing to act, after a Noise
Abatement Notice was served on the property on May 31st, 2023.
The case came
to light following a complaint from a member of the public that the noise
coming from the refrigerator unit was excessive and causing a nuisance to
residents.
Officers from
Shared Regulatory Services visited the resident’s property on 7th
February 2024 and 29th May 2024 to assess the noise levels to
determine whether the noise constituted a ‘Statutory Noise Nuisance’.
By law, the
council must investigate all ‘Statutory Noise Nuisances’ and once the notice is
issued, and if the noise isn’t ‘abated’ in the timeframe given by the
authority, has the option to take enforcement action against the offender if
the noise levels are not reduced.
Cllr Norma
Mackie, Cabinet Member responsible for Shared Regulatory Services: “Officers investigate thousands of
complaints regarding noise nuisance each year across the city. We always look
to work with the public and businesses wherever possible to resolve these
complaints before any formal action is taken.
“In this case, the business didn’t work with us to reduce the noise coming from their business, so the council had no other option other than take the matter to court. The level of the fine in this case, clearly shows that it can be cheaper to fix the fault, rather than ignore it, as not only does this business now have to pay the fine imposed by the court but also pay to fix the refrigerator unit as well.”
For further
information on how to report a noise complaint, please visit the SRS
website here to provide the information.