PLANS for sound barriers to be installed at a factory which residents claim is at the core of a nuisance noise called the 'Leominster hum' have been given the go-ahead.

BPI Films, based on Worcester Road, was seeking permission to replace existing roof vents with noise suppression louvres, acoustic panel surround and silencers to chiller units.

For some years, residents living on Worcester Road, Caswell Road and Hereford Road claim to have been disturbed by a low-frequency noise at night, thought to have been linked to the company.

Investigations carried out by Herefordshire Council's environmental protection service did not identify a statutory noise nuisance, although a low frequency tone was found to be audible to varying degrees outside complainant’s properties.

BPI Films was asked to review its noise controls and, in response, contracted Nova Acoustics Ltd to assess the sound from the factory with two priority sound sources identified for improvement.

Peter Domanski, a local resident who spoke in opposition of the proposal, told Herefordshire Council's planning committee last week that the low-frequency noise had been 'deeply distressing'.

Councillor Jenny Bartlett, said it was encouraging to see the firm starting to tackle the issues although there were still a number of outstanding concerns as to the reliability of the proposed measures to cure the problem completely.

People were 'seriously suffering' with the genuine and real problem, Councillor Felicity Norman told the committee.

And Councillor Liz Harvey sympathised with residents and said low level frequency is used in weapons programmes by the US department of defence.

"Clearly this is causing a problem in Leominster. It sounds like this company is trying its very best to try and address some of the noise issues. I would want to support their efforts," she said.

"It's a very complex matter and perhaps our own environmental health teams aren't in a position to be undertaking the detailed monitoring that needs to get to the route of low level frequency noise."

Paul Cooke, who spoke on behalf of BPI Films, said there had been a ‘small number’ of complaints regarding noise from the factory which had been fully investigated by the authorities which had determined no statutory nuisance was being carried out.

"We are assured once the work has been carried out the noise omitted from the factory will be reduced,” he said.

Approval was given for the measures to be installed with an additional note asking for the company to monitor the noise following the changes.