A local resident living close to an historic Sefton dairy has called for a public inquiry after claims milk bottling is causing “unacceptable” noise in the early hours.
The resident, David Matthews, made the comments in a written objection to an application submitted by Bates Farm and Dairy to Sefton Council. The Birkdale dairy, which has operated in the borough for 80 years, wants to vary restrictions on bottling times that were put in place following a previous planning application that was given approval last year.
That planning application sought permission for a new dairy building at the site, on Stamford Road, following partial demolition of a previous one.
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After a complaint was received by Mr Matthews, expressing concerns over existing noise levels from bottling and other activities already on site, the council agreed to limit the hours of bottling operation to between 7am and 1pm.
Now, the dairy wants the council to reconsider this condition, saying any new bottling taking place outside of these hours would keep noise levels within acceptable limits – a claim disputed by Mr Matthews.
In his objection, Mr Matthews said existing noise levels “exceeds the World Health Organisation’s criteria recommendation as acceptable.”
Mr Matthews said this has been the case since a “considerable increase” in production at the site in the past decade which has transformed it from a “small family business, supplying doorstep milk to the people of Southport to one of the largest processing dairies in the north west.”
The council’s environmental health officer recommended varying the condition to allow for operation between the hours of 5am and 6pm. He said in addition, conditions could include written agreements over background levels and the requirement to submit a noise verification within two months of starting the extended hours of operation.
After a local councillor took up the resident’s concerns, the borough’s head of planning made the decision to ask the planning committee to determine the bottling plant’s running hours, with a decision due to be made by councillors at a meeting of Sefton Council this evening.
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