Noisy 'jet engine' buses drive Southampton pensioner mad

Rod Gates is outraged that double-decker buses with loud engines can be driven in the early mornings and late evenings past his house on Kathleen Road, Sholing.

Bluestar buses have been driving past his house since February when it took over the route from CityRed - and Southampton City Council has admitted it does not currently have any legal powers to curb the noise.

The 79-year-old said the issue is exacerbated when he leaves his window open during the warm summer nights.

Speaking to the Echo, he said: “They put these double-deckers going past our house in the early mornings and the evenings.

“The loud buses are normally used when people are going to and from work in the mornings and evenings.

"It’s only about 50 per cent of the buses that drive past us, but you can hear them as they drive past my house in the early morning, and you can’t help but wake up to the sound of it.

“The noise is just dreadful.”

Rod Gates, 79, by the bus stop near his house (Image: Newsquest)

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Rod has contacted Southampton City Council about the issue - but they said they cannot do anything about the noise pollution.

Despite it being a busy road, Rod says the only issue related to traffic is the noise created by the buses.

He added: “It drives you mad if you’re sitting in the garden and you hear the buses go back and forward.

“We get traffic going to and from this house but it’s the noise of the buses that is really getting to us.”

Rod Gates, 79, looking at the bus driving past his house from his lounge (Image: Newsquest)

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In a joint statement, Bluestar Buses and Southampton City Council said: “We apologise for any disruption these buses are causing to residents along this route and would like to thank them for their patience whilst the issue is being resolved."

The council spokesperson went on to say: “Southampton City Council treat noise complaints very seriously.

“Although we are unable to directly enforce noise pollution from transport via current legislation, we have been working closely with the local bus operators and are aware of their plans to invest in their fleet to rectify a noise issue with a small number of their fleet that they are using while they have taken on routes from the previous bus operator.

“This will continue to be monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis as part of our Enhanced Partnership with the local bus operators."