COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
MOTION NO. 11
MOTION: Councillor A.M. Dermody
"To ask the Manager to brief this meeting as to any restrictions on deliveries of goods to Rathfarnham Shopping Centre. Please indicate time and permit location of such deliveries. There is a complaint from a resident that deliveries to the front of the shop are happening during the course of the night. If there are no such restrictions please confirm the procedure for adopting bye-laws to restrict deliveries at anti-social times during the night, so as to combat noise nuisance and upset to local residents."
REPORT:
The Principal Environmental Health Officer reports that his department is currently investigating a noise complaint concerning deliveries to Rathfarnham Shopping Centre. This complaint concerned early morning deliveries to Tesco, Rathfarnham S.C. on Tuesday, 9th of July. This current case is being handled by Elaine Gadd, Senior Env Health Officer, who has called to Tesco on three occasions in relation to this matter.
Two of these visits/investigations involved meetings on-site with representatives from the Tesco Head Office. Tesco have employed an independent noise consultancy firm, AWN Consultancy to carry out two noise assessments, the latest being carried out on Thursday night/Friday morning 18th/19th July 2013 at the request of Ms.Gadd.
To date, a noise nuisance has not been established on either occasion. Tesco have given assurances that the reversing of trucks by drivers is not permitted and that they utilise noise mats when removing trolleys from a truck.
In addition, the investigating officer has sent noise log sheets to the complainant to capture the dates and times when a noise nuisance has been deemed to have occurred. Such evidence is crucial to adequately substantiate noise complaints particularly ones at night in order for formal action to be taken.
To date, the Environmental Health Department has not yet received the completed log sheets back from the complainant. This complaint investigation is still ongoing.
In conclusion, there are no set times when such deliveries can and cannot occur. It is fairly standard that most deliveries occur during night time hours when shops are closed and traffic is light on the streets to facilitate the movement of large HGVs. However, if and when definitive evidence supports a complaint re noise affecting sleep patterns, the Environmental Health do and will move swiftly to take action to reduce or eliminate unacceptable noise levels.