A-ha! Residents left hunting high and low for a bit of peace and quiet - The Redditch Standard

A-ha! Residents left hunting high and low for a bit of peace and quiet

Redditch Editorial 12th Mar, 2020 Updated: 12th Mar, 2020   0

AN Ipsley man disturbed by noise in his home traced the sound to Fly By Nite Studios to discover pop group A-ha rehearsing their hit song ‘The Living Daylights’.

At first the man thought the sound was coming from the town’s fair but he later realised it was the top Norwegian band.

He is now urging Redditch Borough Council to use its powers to mitigate the level of noise coming from the studio on Broad Ground Road.

“They were certainly shaking the living daylights out of the building’s exterior cladding,” he said.




“I wondered to myself how anyone working at the adjacent Eaton office could possibly concentrate.

“And since then, several of my other evenings have been disturbed too.


“Indifferent councillors and apathetic neighbours are the reason why this issue has been allowed to continue.”

However he said a recent influx of new residents, some as far away as Shottery Close, have now also complained to the council.

Dozens of megastars rehearse at Fly By Nite, which is the largest purpose-built production studio in Europe, every year.

Acts including Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran and Radiohead have all spent time there.

The studio was built in 2015 and, at the time, the council declined to accept Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ (WRS) advice to apply noise conditions.

This was because the ‘nearest residents were 300metres away’.

The borough’s head of planning, Ruth Bamford, said: “Upon considering the matter, the planning committee agreed with this approach and the condition suggested by WRS was not placed on the subsequent planning approval.”

The man affected added: “Well then why is it bothering the residents of Ipsley who are 600m away?”

A council spokeswoman said if residents have any concerns they need to contact Worcestershire Regulatory Services, which will investigate further.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Redditch Standard.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Redditch Standard.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.