Nutter’s neighbour losing sleep as security lights blaze away

Date published: 11 December 2012


Steve and Sushma Davison have so far failed to win their long-standing battle against their next door neighbour, Nutter’s award-winning restaurant. The couple, who live on Edenfield Road, claim that glaring security lights at the Norden restaurant are making their lives intolerable and have led to sleepless nights and stress.

The Davison’s say that the problem goes back to 2011 when Nutters upgraded their car park security lighting. The lights now glare directly into their bedroom where, Mr Davison claims, it is light enough to read a book without turning a bedside lamp on.

The couple also claim that Nutters has failed to speak to them or respond to a written complaint, forcing them to raise the matter with the Norden Forum. The Davison’s say that, despite assurances given by the restaurant to local Councillor Ann Metcalfe, nothing has been done. Councillor Wera Hobhouse said: “Nutters is a well-known business but they need to be good neighbours.”

Mr Davison, who runs several software companies, says that they are not asking for the removal of the lights; simply a commitment to re-angle them or change to lower intensity bulbs. He told Rochdale Online that the issue has caused him stress to the extent that he has had to seek help from his GP and a specialist consultant.

Council planning officers have also visited the restaurant in an attempt to resolve the issue but without a result, the council have confirmed in writing that they live in a low brightness district, the council could serve a statutory abatement notice or else enforce existing planning regulations on the company.

At a township meeting earlier this year, planning officer, Peter Rowlinson said that there was a requirement for parties to resolve issues like these through mediation rather than by seeking legal remedies.

We have approached Nutters in response to this issue but they have declined to comment.

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