Power plant noise is 'act of torture'

RESIDENTS have spoken of their "torture" and "torment" living with bass noise from two power plants.

- By GARETH LIGHTHOUSE

The people of Cowpen Bewley say they have been proved right by years of "persistent and pulsating" low-frequency noise from Statera's power stations.

The problem was so serious, the Stor Generating Plants on Seal Sands Link Road, Billingham, are no longer operating.

The Environment Agency (EA) suspended the plants’ environmental permits until the issue was resolved. So Saltholme North Power Ltd applied for planning permission to install a “sarcophagus” around the 49.99MW gas-fired power plants.

The EA was said to be satisfied this could reduce the noise levels, but would only restore the permits if it was achieved. However residents at Stockton Council's planning committee meeting said they were not convinced.

Dr Hugh Stitt said residents had suffered “torment, anguish and mental stress” because of the plants, approved in 2018 and operating since 2021. He told the committee: “The key issue is one of low-frequency noise - persistent and pulsating.

“The issue was highlighted and predicted by our noise consultant prior to the original plan being approved. Subsequent events have proven his analysis to be entirely correct.

“In this application [the consultant] is again preaching caution. He states specifically it is unlikely that measures will achieve the required reduction in low-frequency noise.