NUISANCE neighbours have long been a concern in York, where bad behaviour on the city's council estates can be punished by a series of strict measures.

Now the council is looking to get tough with another sort of neighbourly bother - developers who work without regard for those living near by.

The council is rightly concerned by what it sees as the "cavalier culture" spawned by those developers who ignore the rules and restrictions on when and how they can work.

A new enforcement officer has been hired to ensure developers play by the rules.

This is boom time in York with every corner of open land being eyed up to cash in on rising property prices.

Buildings which have one use, perhaps as a club or public house, are suddenly an attractive proposition as flats instead. So the pressure is mounting - on land, space and, in many cases, patience.

Residents of Bull Lane, off Lawrence Street, have complained repeatedly to the council about the disturbance caused by builders working on a housing development.

While Barratt may boast of the luxurious nature of what they are erecting, residents are more concerned with the noise and nuisance.

Work is said to start as early as 6.30am and to continue until 9.30pm. Clearly this is unacceptable in a residential area where people who have themselves put in a hard day deserve a bit of peace and quite.

Barratt are to be issued with a Breach of Conditions Notice, which it is hoped will end the disturbance.

Builders at other sites are being assessed too, with criticism being levelled at the massive Persimmon Homes development off Hull Road, which will be served with a similar notice after ignoring repeated warnings about working out of agreed hours.

It has long been recognised that bad neighbours can make life hell. Builders are neighbours to those around them, at least while a job lasts.

Developers should remember some neighbourly manners and ensure work is carried out in a considerate manner.

Updated: 11:48 Friday, December 06, 2002