AN INVESTIGATION has been launched by council officers following complaints over noise coming from ferry-related activated at the Port of Poole.

Residents are understood to have raised the matter relating to Brittany Ferries with BCP Council’s environmental health department.

While Brittany Ferries has told the Daily Echo that the investigators “conclusion was that any noise was within acceptable limits”, the local authority said the probe had begun but not been completed yet.

A Hamworthy resident, who is one of multiple people to have lodged complaints, said the noise, which they believe is linked to the Barfleur ferry, can start around 11pm and continue through to 11am the following morning.

They said they have heard it as far away as Hamworthy Railway Station and it is sometimes impossible to sleep at night without the windows closed.

The resident said: “I find the council's attitude to concerns rather dismissive to the situation.

“What I find frustrating is there must be measures that can be done but they are not looking to enforce them.

“The Barfleur has been there since 1992 and technology to address this noise problem has changed since then.

“The town isn’t served by the ferry. The commuters going to France are being served by it.

“I want the council to have an open dialogue about their investigation and what can be done.”

A Brittany Ferries spokesperson said the company had been liaising with the council’s environmental health team on the issue.

“Their officers attended various properties near the port over several nights during their recent investigation,” the spokesperson said.

“Their conclusion was that any noise was within acceptable levels, mindful of the fact that Barfleur has served the town since 1992 and proximity of properties to a working port. Notwithstanding this conclusion, we have taken steps to keep any noise nuisance to an absolute minimum.

“For example, when extra power is not needed overnight, our team on board Barfleur will run a quieter generator. And we can assure Echo readers and residents that we will continue to do all we can to be good neighbours, as well as the town’s long-standing bridge to France.”

  • The Daily Echo contacted BCP Council for comment and asked the following questions: How many complaints has the council received which led to this investigation, over what time period were these received and what did these complaints allege?
  • What investigations have been carried out and what were the findings?
  • Has the investigation led to any direct action to remedy the situation?
  • Has the investigation concluded or is the matter remaining under active review?

A council spokeswoman said an investigation had begun but no further information could be provided until its conclusion.