Transport operator has new conditions imposed after noise complaints

New conditions have been imposed on the restricted operator's licence of Peter Youings and Partners in response to persistent noise complaints from residents.

A public inquiry with traffic commissioner Miles Dorrington, held in March at the Law Courts in Barnstaple, heard concerns regarding disruptive noise levels from the operator’s Barbican Close operating centre, particularly during early morning hours.

Dorrington had asked the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to undertake an analysis of the data contained in the vehicle units from the operator’s regulated vehicles to reveal the times that those vehicles first moved each day.

The review discovered that vehicle movements, frequently occurring before 5:30 am, created unacceptable environmental conditions for nearby residents.

It found that 65.2% of the time (419 instances out of 642) vehicles started being driven before 5.30am, including 105 before 4.30am.

Dorrington said “Over time the operator has taken on more and more work that is further and further away from its operating centre.

“For example, customers as far away as Merthyr Tydfil and Bournemouth. That has resulted in the operator’s vehicles having to leave earlier and earlier to make the return trip that same day.

“However, there comes a time when the business wants of the operator reach a point where they pose an unreasonable environmental interference upon the owners or occupiers of land in the vicinity of its operating centre.”

To mitigate the disturbance and ensure the well-being of the community, a new condition has been added to the operator’s licence.

This condition strictly regulates the hours of vehicle activity at the operating centre. From Monday to Friday, there should be no vehicle activity before 5.30am and after 10pm; on Saturdays there should be no vehicle activity before 8am and after 6pm; and on Sundays no operation is allowed except in documented emergencies.

The renewal of Peter Youings and Partners’ operator’s licence is now contingent upon strict adherence to these newly imposed conditions.