NIMBY!
I have a few pet hates. One of them is so-called “NIMBYism” - “Not in my back yard”. People who don’t mind an idea in theory - until it sets up camp near to them.
When it’s objecting to the building of something like wind farms - then at least they’ve got some point. If everyone took that attitude then they’d never be any built. But, at least they’re trying to stop something changing.
What annoys me even more if people who move somewhere - then complain. Church bells are likely to ring on a Sunday morning. Airports will have the sound of planes. And, of particular interest to me - if you move to within the vicinity of a motorsport circuit, you’ll hear the sound of engines.
And yet, to give the most unfortunate example, Castle Combe circuit had a ‘noise abatement’ order slapped on it in 2005, following complaints from villagers. It’s widely accepted in the motorsport community that all of these are ‘new’ residents to the area. Now, the circuit can’t hold any ‘national’ (ie. high profile) events, as they’re too loud. There’s also evidence that a number of residents still complaining about the noise have done so - when there’s been no racing on!
Castle Combe isn’t the only circuit effected, many circuits are getting unwanted attention from local councils. And motorsport certainly hasn’t got louder - with technological advancements - it’s quieter. The noisiest parts of the day tend to be as every engine is revved up at stationary - for the obligatory noise testing. I think that’s a definition of irony…
Anyway, that’s I’m a keen supporter of this petition on the No10 website: Live with it. OK, it’s only a petition, and the government can ignore if they chose. That said, with enough signatures, it requires some attention - see the road charging petition. It’s a small impact, and why I’ve signed to say:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to introduce a green paper proposing ways, that, where complaints have been instigated by resident(s) against a long standing activity (for example, church bells, sports facility, local airfield and similar), and where residence has been taken up since the start of that activity (providing there has been no significant increase in activity), a presumption should be made to protect the continuation of that activity and reject such complaint”
To me, it’s common sense. If you agree, you’ve until 17th September to sign up - and I hope you will.
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I have signed the petition.
There is a small airport/airfield near me, and some have been trying to have it closed (most notably the Labour and LibDem Groups on the local council) for much the same reason — people have moved nearby since, and don’t like the noise.
Actually, very few have a problem with it, as most applied some intelligence before moving in. They wouldn’t have done so if it was going to be an issue for them; which was my own thinking when moving here myself, a dozen years ago. It certainly isn’t any kind of problem for me.