Droylsden estate join together to protest 'useless' acoustic fence

A group of Droylsden residents are saying enough is enough after years of back and forth between themselves and their estate management company.

Residents on Waterside View have been troubled by heavy industry noise from site across the canal from their houses.

When the houses were built almost 15 years ago, plans included an ‘acoustic fence’ to block such noise, but residents say what was installed was nothing more than a bog-standard fence.

They pay a maintenance fee to a management company but say they receive nothing in return, with landscaping and street lighting being taken care of by Tameside Council.

Residents say that means that it means they’re left paying over £120 a year for upkeep on an ‘acoustic fence’ that blocks no noise.

Pat Lynham lives in one of the houses on the road with her daughter Lisa and says that the planning permission isn’t be followed.

She said: “When they built these houses planning permission said they had to put up an acoustic fence next to canal towpath to stop noise from factory.

“The current fence is 15 years old. They’re not taking it down and building a proper acoustic fence they’re putting something behind it.

“We’re paying for something that’s not there. Tameside has taken over the lights so were not paying for that, the grass is taken care of by the local houses so we’re just paying for the fence.”

Her daughter Lisa contacted Tameside Council to raise her concerns about the lack of noise control. The Reporter also contacted Tameside Council for a statement, who said: “We’re aware of and investigating the complaints about noise and the planning issue in relation to the fence. We are unable to comment any further at this stage.”

The Reporter contacted the house builder, Persimmon, but was unable to get a response.

The noise from the busy Seamark site might not be a problem for the residents for much longer however, with plans being submitted for a new housing estate.

Developers are hoping to build 255 apartments across five blocks on the waterfront property. The buildings are planned to be between 4 and 7 storeys in height, which the residents of Waterside View will infringe on their privacy.

The new development will include a 1.8 meter high fence between properties and the canal.

A sun study submitted as part of the plans show that part of the Waterside view estate will be cast in shade by the new buildings during afternoons and evenings in the wintertime.

The application went before the council in October of last year but is awaiting a decision.

Pat explained: “Because this planning permission could take the next three to five years, you need to get the fence up now to stop the noise.

“When they finally do put the fence up they’re going to do a sound check again.

“When we went door knocking I went to the bottom you couldn’t hear yourself think. I couldn’t live down there. They’re three story houses and they can’t have their windows open.”

Despite the problems they’re facing as a community, she says its a wonderful place to live. Pat said: “We love the area. When we moved in everyone asked why we moved to the border of Clayton and Openshaw but this is such a lovely street.

“You don’t have any problems and when you drive into it its like a little oasis, it really is a nice place to live and this just ruins it. The people who live canal side I can’t imagine what this must be like.”