A Borehamwood family may have to sell their home just four months after moving in thanks to the "continual noise and disturbance" from a nearby Eastern Electricity depot.

Brian and Janice Morley moved to Bullhead Road with their three children from an Islington estate for some peace and quiet.

But now they are wishing they had never bothered and will be forced to go through the hassle of moving again if things don't improve.

Mrs Morley has even had to leave her part-time job at Monksmead School because of the stress and lack of sleep the noise from the Manor Way depot has caused.

She said: "It is just an absolute nightmare. We are having to endure 24-hour disturbance in the form of lorries coming and going, gates banging, things being thrown into skips and people shouting. Even if it is the middle of the night the noise goes on. Once we are woken up it is very difficult to get back to sleep and that is having as terrible effect on the whole family. I feel very depressed on many days.

"We have to keep our windows shut all the time, even if it is a hot night. And if ever I go and ask them to keep it down, I just get abuse hurled at me. We just cannot stand it anymore and want to move away which is a shame because we really like Borehamwood. But Islington was quiet compared to this."

The couple have complained to Hertsmere Borough Council's environmental health unit but feel their plight is not being taken seriously.

Mrs Morley said: "Each time things get really bad and we are woken up at 3am, we call the council. They have said they will look into it but weeks go by and again nothing is done. If only they knew how difficult it was living next to this and what it was doing to our quality of life I'm sure they would be taking action.

"We have even gone directly to Eastern Electricity to see if they can tell us why these people have to work at night, and ask them to stop, but really nothing seems to make any difference. The only way for us to lead a normal life seems to be to sell our home and move, even if it is only a few roads away."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "We have received a complaint from residents about the noise in the depot and have been in contact with Eastern Electricity. They have planning permission to use it at that time but if they are causing noise pollution we will look into it."

Eastern Electricity's spokeswoman admitted that the company used the depot at irregular hours but insisted that this was necessary.

She said: "We have lorries delivering equipment late at night but we do ask them not to make it after 11pm. Sometimes, for whatever reason, they are delayed and then they can arrive later than that. They put equipment into metal cages and this could be causing a lot of the noise.

"However, although they have to do their job, we do believe in being good neighbours and have asked them to be vigilant in getting there before 11pm and moved the cages and skips away from the Morleys' garden.

"I was unaware of any verbal abuse being used but if that is the case we will have words with them."

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