Suffolk residents in Bury St Edmunds and nearby submit complaints over mystery humming noise that is affecting quality of life
A ‘constant’ humming noise has been blighting the lives of residents in an area of Suffolk – and some have taken it upon themselves to investigate the mystery sound.
A resident of the Bartons, on the Moreton Hall estate of Bury St Edmunds, has been complaining to the Environment Agency about the noise and has been going out – including in the middle of the night - to investigate.
The resident, who asked not to be named, said the noise had been going on, day and night, since the beginning of the year, but had got increasingly worse and had now got ‘beyond bearable’.
He told SuffolkNews: “We are hearing the humming all the time. The low drone humming is resonating around the area so much. It’s mentally draining, it affects our sleep. It affects the enjoyment of our property.
“It also means we have to close windows and if that means it’s a very hot day that causes an issue as well. It’s having a real impact.”
The resident, who has been making recordings and videos of the noise, added: “I had to shut my windows at the weekend and I could still hear it.”
The resident, who has lived there for more than 30 years, has been reporting the noise to the Environment Agency sometimes two or three times a day and doesn’t believe the matter is being treated with urgency.
He said comments on social media from others who can hear the ‘constant’ humming noise were ‘such a relief’ – and he urges people to report the noise as ‘it’s affecting people’s lives’.
He said: “It feels like my life at the moment. It’s just ongoing. You cannot escape it, and when you do get away and come back, it’s straight away you can hear it.”
He said in addition to the droning, humming noise, there was a squeaking noise, but the humming was the main one.
Linda Barnard, from nearby Rougham, is convinced she can hear the same noise – and said it had been triggering her PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
On Monday evening, after returning from a caravan holiday, she thought ‘what’s that noise?’ and she couldn’t sleep.
The next morning, she saw a post on Facebook about it and thought ‘I’m not going mad’.
When asked if it is affecting her quality of life, she said: “At night time it definitely is. It gets in my head.”
She has also reported it to the Environment Agency, and added she drove out at about 8pm last night and recorded it.
Speaking with SuffolkNews today, Ms Barnard, who works in a pharmacy, said: “I can hear it now. I’m out in my garden. It’s a continuous whining droning resonating noise.”
She said the noise definitely came from the west and she was really surprised how clear it was, even in the day.
Tom Kirk, who has posted on Facebook asking if others on Moreton Hall have heard the noise, said he had complained to West Suffolk Council and driven around on Wednesday night after 10pm to investigate.
He said the noise impacted him at night when in bed and it was quiet ‘and difficult to go to sleep with a constant droning in the background’.
However, he said while it was very evident over the last weekend and early part of this week, he hadn’t heard it over last two nights. But he added: “The problem has been over a long period of time.”
There were also reports in September last year of a low but loud humming noise often heard on Moreton Hall, causing a disturbance to many residents after 11pm.
The Environment Agency was approached for comment, as was West Suffolk Council.
Cllr Gerald Kelly, cabinet member for governance, regulatory and environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “We have received one complaint so far and the resident was advised that we need more information on where the noise is coming from before we can take action to help address the issue.”
