A DISGRUNTLED Evesham woman claims she is being ‘driven mad’ by the noise made by vehicles driving over metal studs outside her home.
Wendy Cooper, who has lived on Elm Road for 42 years, told the Observer she has even had to move to the bedroom at the back of her house because the noise of the studs was keeping her awake at night.
The problem began back in October last year when she saw workmen digging up the road by the pedestrian crossing and the studs were removed.
After the work was completed, the studs were put back but since then according to Mrs Cooper, the metal studs have been making a clicking noise every time a vehicle drives over them.
In January, after Mrs Cooper first complained, the studs were inspected by the highways team at Worcestershire County Council who told her they were loose.
However despite the inspection from highways officers, the problem hasn’t been resolved leading the frustrated resident to accuse council chiefs of not taking any notice.
Speaking to the Observer, Mrs Cooper said: “In January I rang and complained to Worcestershire County Council and they said it would be a statutory five days to investigate, and then up to 28 days to decide whether something will be done.
“On January 23, I had a phone call from a lady at the County Council and they thought Virgin was to blame and they said they would come and put it right on January 16.
“Between now and then I’ve been ringing them and nothing has happened since the first call I made.
It then emerged, after Mrs Cooper contacted Coun Alan Booth who investigated, that Virgin was not to blame and instead it was the building contractor Kelly.
“I had a text from Alan to say it was Kelly who was to blame and they had been instructed to correct it as soon as possible,” she added.
“That was two weeks ago. The whole thing has been a fiasco from the start.
“On February 7 Kelly’s had been asked to secure the studs as soon as possible and I would I let Alan know by that Friday if nothing happened, which it didn’t.
“This has been going on since October, but it was the beginning of January when I first complained and we’re now nearly half way through March.”How long is this going to go on? How soon is as soon as possible? It would be a lot sooner if they lived here and had to put up with it.
“We have lived here for 42 years and I don’t see why I should have to move into another bedroom because they can’t put a simple problem right.
“We will be sitting here this afternoon and if the road is busy enough it’s all you can hear. It sounds like a train going into the sidings. It just drives me mad.
“It feels like there’s no end in sight. I keep ringing and ringing and no one seems to be taking any notice. Are we going to be doing this in 12 months time?”
In response, a Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of an issue following some recent works carried out by a utility company.
“We are currently looking into the matter.”
