Reepham school told to limit use of 'noisy' heat pump
After complaints about the pump, BDC gave the school retrospective planning permission to use it, provided they did not run the pump outside school hours and disturb the neighbours.
Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the outside air and transferring it to a building's heating and hot water system, like a reverse fridge.They are designed to operate 24 hours a day, with a frost setting kicking in during low temperatures to maintain heat levels and stop the equipment freezing.Gregory Quinn has grown out a hedge in his front garden to screen off the heat pump noise."It's louder than a dishwasher and perhaps quieter that an extractor fan so you are conscious of it," he said. "I've grown my hedge longer, higher and wider so it does mitigate the noise to a degree but it does affect us early in the morning."At five o'clock we can hear it kick in on the frost cycle."
'Heart of the town'
Reepham High School appealed against the restrictions put on them by the council. But the Inspectorate turned down the appeal, stating it was "both necessary and reasonable to impose a restriction preventing the operation of the de-frost cycle to protect the living conditions of neighbouring residents". The council said it would take enforcement action against the school if and when the heat pumps were used again, but would not act on previous breaches this year.The school told the BBC that alternative heating was being used instead of the heat pump. "Reepham High School and Sixth Form is at the heart of the town and a valued part of the community," a spokesperson said."As with any construction project at the school, it was never our intention to upset or inconvenience residents."
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