End noise pollution? Start with this manhole cover

Published: 2:11 PM August 4, 2006 Updated: 9:49 PM February 22, 2021

AT the beginning of June I reported a loose round manhole cover at the junction of Queens Road and Somers Road, Wisbech, to the highways department of Cambridgshire County Council. This cover makes so much noise when traffic passes over it, that we canno

AT the beginning of June I reported a loose round manhole cover at the junction of Queens Road and Somers Road, Wisbech, to the highways department of Cambridgshire County Council.

This cover makes so much noise when traffic passes over it, that we cannot sleep after five o'clock in the morning, when the shift workers start arriving at the local factory which has a car park at the end of Somers Road.

After the first week of waiting, I phoned again. After another week I sent an e-mail. After another week I again phoned again and was promised it would be looked into. After a few days away, to catch up on our sleep, suddenly some coloured spray paint highlighted the manhole.

I contacted the enviromental health department. as the constant noise was detrimental to our health. Every time you hear a car, you wait for the bang of the manhole. Evidently noise is not an environmental issue. The department told me to contact the water authority as it may be a sewer manhole cover. I contacted the water authority to report it, but nothing has happened yet.

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On reading your paper I saw that Fenland District Council is intending to target and fine antisocial and environmental crimes, one of which was noise from house alarms - fine £75 Will they allow them to sound for seven weeks before taking action?

I know who I shall vote for in the next election. Perhaps a responsible council person would like to spend an hour at our house to hear the problem, before it is concreted over.