Construction company working outside permitted hours fined £5,000
Friday 22 September, 2023: A construction company has been fined £5,000 after Hillingdon Council caught builders doing noisy works outside permitted hours.
The case was heard at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 12 September, where the company faced a charge of failing to comply with the requirements of a Control of Pollution Act notice.
The court was told the notice was issued on 1 November 2022, following complaints about noise nuisance from the site. The notice required that work at the site could only take place between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays and that no work could take place on Sundays or bank holidays.
Following further reports of noise, the council's anti-social behaviour officers visited the site at around 9am on Sunday 19 February, and witnessed drilling and banging, with builders witnessed working on the upper floors. This was in clear breach of the notice served, the court heard.
The magistrates reached their decision during last week's hearing in the absence of any representatives from Westway Construction Limited.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, said: "We're committed to doing all we can to create safe and strong communities where residents can enjoy a good quality of life.
"Rogue businesses like this not only flout the rules but also impact adversely on the lives of residents living nearby. We won't allow that to continue and will take the strongest action wherever possible.
"I hope this case serves as a warning to others to abide by the rules, or risk paying the price."
Along with the fine, Westway Construction Limited was also ordered to pay the council's costs of £521.44.