Poundbury families slate noisy neighbours claims

From the Echo, first published Saturday 18th Oct 2003.

POUNDBURY residents today rubbished claims they were suffering from noisy neighbours.

A study backed by the Government found some locals at Prince Charles' village complained their privacy was being invaded through noise from neighbouring properties.

But residents and Duchy of Cornwall chiefs today hit back saying noise levels were actually less than previous homes. The report by Design for Homes, backed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, asked residents about their feelings towards privacy.

The non-profit-making organisation claims Poundbury homeowners told it that rather than worrying about being overlooked they feared being overheard and were fed up with what they could hear from nearby properties. It also claims residents in affordable terraced homes complained they could hear voices and music two doors away.

But families today leapt to the defence of Poundbury, saying the noise levels are no worse than anywhere else. Mike West, residents' association chairman, said: "Homes here are better insulated than many other places and I certainly haven't heard of any problems.

"We are normal people, living normal lives so there is obviously the occasional noise, but I certainly do not have any problems with privacy."

The findings follow this week's conference at Poundbury which heard findings of an official study into the development.

The Oxford Brookes University report revealed locals generally like Poundbury and did not find privacy a major issue. Local Barry Smith said: "We do hear the odd noise but, if anything, Poundbury is better than anywhere else we have lived. I don't know where people get these views from. We have considerate neighbours and we can never hear their radio, let alone talking. "Other people I know locally don't have any problems either."

Sue McCarthy Moore, of Middlemarsh Street, added: "A few people might think there is a problem but this all seems something of nothing.

"Poundbury is easy pickings for people to criticise." Andrew Hamilton, Duchy development director, said houses on the development were insulated to keep noise levels to a minimum and he added: "All the reports we have seen have shown completely the opposite to what Design for Homes are saying.

"If anybody does have complaints about this then we haven't heard them."

David Birbeck, chief executive of Design for Homes, said: "The definition of privacy has been rewritten with the findings of this report to become aural first and foremost."

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