Overnight construction

heretolearn_2

Hi

Quick summary - overnight construction work taking place in retail park car park from 8pm to 6am every night this week. Seriously noisy so can't sleep. Big machiinery, drilling up concrete, etc. Lots of complaints being made to council and car park management company. They have planning permission but the planning dept has just told me they should have closed part of the car park during the day instead of doing the work overnight like this. The environmental health dept are also looking into it. Like I said, lots of complaints, not just mine.

I'm emailing to complain to the car park management company and the landlord (I've spoken to the site manager and this is what he has suggested) and ask two things - why local residents weren't informed in advance - a nice letter explaining what was happening, why, and the timescale with an apology for the disruption would have been appreciated. Then why the work was scheduled for 8pm to 6am for one week, when to show a little consideration they could have worked 8pm to 1am for a longer period, for example.

Now...I hate to be a compensation jumper, and I've been in all sorts of accidents that I've done no claims etc on, accidents are accidents, but this is deliberate disruption. I run a business and frankly I'm dead on my feet and not able to work properly today, and it's going to go on all week. Do you think I should ask them for a little compensation for lack of sleep/effect on my ability to run my business?

somethingcorporate

If you can actually prove your losses then yes, go for it.

Otherwise, you're just asking for goodwill which is probably worth asking for but don't get your hopes up.

heretolearn_2

Oh well, we'll see. I can't demonstrate losses - it's not like I'm going to shut a shop and not work, I'm just sitting here vegetating in my office with everything I look at swimming around the page, so I'm essentially being totally crap.

Haven't asked outright but asked what they are going to do to resolve the situation and make up for the effect on me and my business.

browneyedbazzi

I'd be tempted to write to them and advise that due to the noise making you unable to sleep (and therefore unable to function during the day at work) you need alternative accommodation and expect them to pay for it.

bris

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

I'd be tempted to write to them and advise that due to the noise making you unable to sleep (and therefore unable to function during the day at work) you need alternative accommodation and expect them to pay for it.

Don't be silly, just another compo hunter for no reason other than they think they can get something for nothing.

George_Michael

bris wrote: »

Don't be silly, just another compo hunter for no reason other than they think they can get something for nothing.

If you were to have a car accident due to something that wasn't your fault and your car was unusable until it had been repaired, wouldn't you expect to be given a courtesy car?
What is the difference here? The OP's house is unusable as far as sleeping goes and no one has mentioned compensation for anything other than the actual costs incurred in getting alternative accommodation.

heretolearn_2

Being unable to sleep and therefore work for a whole week is nothing? you try having one of those big road drill things (the big ones attached to JCB, not hand held ones) going off outside your window until 6am every night. The fact that I've had to abandon my business for the day since 1pm as can't even walk in a straight line any more I'm that tired as not slept since Sunday night, nothing?

Anyway, got a result from the Management Company. Contractor has been instructed all noisy work and heavy machinery to stop at 8pm each evening, and got an apology. So I'm happy now.