Club noise earns residents’ ire
Local resident said she contacted Metro police about noise issues but they don't seem to be interested.
A BLACKBURN Road resident has hit out at the excessive noise levels from the clubs on Umhlanga Rocks Drive (URD). The resident who did want to be named, said the noise levels are affecting both her and her husband’s sleep.
She said the nightclubs belt out high-decibel music long into the early morning and what’s worse, party revellers add to the cacophony of sound by doing “doughnuts” outside the clubs. screech all Sunday afternoon.
“We are originally from Johannesburg and when we first moved into our house on Blackburn Road, the noise was unbearable. And it’s still ongoing, for six nights a week until 5am, we are subjected to excessively loud music. Even after building an extension on to the house, we’ve been able to hear the DJ shouting to the crowd, and the music thumping, it’s disgusting. We often hear the club revellers on the street, shouting or spinning their wheels outside the club.
“I’ve contacted Metro police who don’t seem to be interested. My daughter who phoned them was told by an officer that the clubs had a license to operate till 5am in the morning. They have the right to have fun but surely we have the right to sleep,” the angry resident said.
She said her husband had now resorted to using ear plugs.
“I’m concerned about our safety because my husband wouldn’t hear an intruder if he broke in because of the ear plugs,” she added.
uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, said he’d received numerous complaints from residents in the area regarding the excessive noise from the clubs on Umhlanga Rocks Drive.
“This has been an ongoing problem particularly towards the beginning of URD because the clubs which are too close to surrounding residential areas. I urge residents to contact Metro police for any noise level contravention but I will be asking the city to investigate and check if the clubs abide by the health and safety standards.
“The health department will verify that the soundproofing is 100 per cent. I will also be asking the city to check if the clubs have their liquor license up to date,” he said.
