While many were enjoying the extended bank holiday celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, residents of Broughton were struggling with the familiar disturbance of a nearby school. The neighbours of Kerem Shloime Primary School For Boys in Salford have been battling to cope with what they call non-stop noise from constant playtimes.
This was no different on the most recent bank holiday when the school remained open, which they are allowed to do unlike most state-run institutions- something the neighbours do not agree with. The Jewish private school, which has the most noise complaints in Salford, is also allowed to be open over the weekend.
“You are just not able to get away from it in your own home,” resident Karen Corbett said.
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“I spoke to the school and asked why they were open when it was quite a significant bank holiday but I didn’t get a proper response. It was just like any other day.
“There were cars there at around 4:45pm for pick up. The only way to get away from this is to not be home.”
Ms Corbett explained that people in the area want to relax at the weekend in their gardens, but says this is impossible with the constant noise coming from the school.
The Orthodox school's playground, a former car park, borders the back gardens of neighbouring houses with nothing but a narrow street separating them. Salford City Council, which offered mediation to the neighbouring residents and the school - which they say the latter chose not to engage with - says it is satisfied 'there is no statutory nuisance from either noise or light pollution and therefore no legal action we can take' to appease residents' woes.
But another resident, Jim Mooney, believes that the council's decision to allow the former health centre to be converted into a school should be reviewed due to what he claims was a lack of consultation with neighbouring residents. In June 2021, the Orthodox Jewish primary school was formally granted permission to use all of the Back Duncan Street building on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
“It did disturb me,” the film producer said. “Thursday was my first day off in about a week as well.
“When the weather is good it is like constant playtime. The council has done nothing ever since the decision was made there. There has been no consultation so the council should be reviewing the decision made last June."
Footage taken last year by Mr Mooney captured the high level of noise heard from gardens and length of playtimes - with the film producer saying one lasted for four and a half hours between 9.30am and 3.30pm on September 12, 2021.
Councillor Mike McCusker, Lead Member for Planning and Sustainable Development, said previously: "Salford City Council has fully investigated residents' complaints using the powers given to us by the Environmental Protection Act 1990. To take legal action there must be a statutory nuisance.
"We are satisfied that in this case there is no statutory nuisance from either noise or light pollution and therefore no legal action we can take. We have offered the services of an independent mediation company to all parties to try and help resolve this neighbourhood dispute.
"Participation in this confidential process is entirely voluntary. We keep traffic issues across the city under constant review and will consider residents' comments as part of that."
Kerem Shloime Primary School has been approached for comment.
