Neighbours of a disused pub earmarked for housing say they suffered through “64 hours of torture” when the building’s alarm was set off.
The Sir Audley Arms, on Audley Road in Chippenham, has been closed for some time and a planning application to convert the venue into housing is currently being considered.
Nearby residents have been left “frustrated” after the alarm at the derelict property reportedly sounded non-stop for two weekends in the last month.
The most recent incident saw the alarm finally turned off on the evening of Monday, July 1, after ringing for around 64 hours, according to neighbour Claire Bell.
READ MORE: Decision on future of 'unviable' Wiltshire pub delayed
Mrs Bell said the alarm had already gone off for four whole days last month and was “like torture” for people living in the area.
She said: “It took them 64 hours to turn it off and that was the second time this has happened in the last month, last time it burnt itself out after four days.
“It started again at around 2am on the Saturday and woke me up, it goes constantly day and night so you can’t even use your garden or open your windows.
“It’s louder at the back and there’s houses all along there so it must have been unbearable for the, because it was bad enough for us.
“The noise ruined our weekend.”
Multiple neighbours called Wiltshire Council, the police and the fire service, but were reportedly informed the alarm was the responsibility of Cordage 20, the applicant hoping to convert the property into housing.
After being notified by its security contractors, Cordage 20 switched off the alarm.
The company could not be reached for further comment.
Despite this, residents remain concerned that the incidents will be repeated once the alarm system is reactivated.
Mrs Bell added: “It’s so frustrating because there is literally nobody to help when it happens over the weekend.
“I don’t know what will happen now, I think it will have to be set again.
“To not have anyone to turn it off when it affects that many people is unfair, it would just be nice to have a number to ring.”
Cordage 20 is currently seeking permission to partially demolish the pub buildings and create four homes at the site.
The plans, which have been backed by town councillors despite the “regrettable” loss of the venue, were delayed while a bat survey was carried out.
Wiltshire Council has set a new deadline of July 12 for a decision.
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