An off-licence was temporarily closed after residents complained about being repeatedly disturbed by a loud noise coming from the premises.

Harrow Council officers discovered the noise to be an electricity generator the owner was using to power the shop day and night as there was no proper power supply.

It was uncovered by Harrow Council’s enforcement team during its second ‘week of action’ in Rayners Lane between October 30 and November 3.

The off-licence was found to have no proper electricity supply, meaning the generator was left running day and night, much to the annoyance of locals and those living nearby.

The council claimed the noise was so loud that it “could be heard from further down the road".

Officers visited the shop after it was previously given a warning for selling alcohol without a valid licence, as well as due to a stream of complaints from residents about the noise nuisance.

Harrow Times: Generator. The noise from the generator could be heard 'further down the road'. Image Credit: Harrow Council

The generator would switch off intermittently, which also meant that refrigerated food was badly affected due to the lack of temperature control.

The owner chose to voluntarily close the shop whilst the electrical issues are fixed and the alcohol licence can be updated. Officers have said the investigation will continue and have promised to follow up with the business owner.

The council works with police, trading standards, and London Fire Brigade during 'weeks of action' to tackle issues including fly-tipping, business trading and houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).  

Cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and community safety, Cllr Anjana Patel, said: “There are several successes we have seen off the back of our latest week of action. We listened to the concerns of local residents in the area and we took action.”

She added: “Everyone has a right to a decent quality of life. I am pleased that our officers have addressed this issue of noise and nuisance caused by a noisy generator found operating all hours of the day. This is not acceptable, and I hope residents can now breathe a sigh of relief and are able to relax at home.”

The Rayner’s Lane week of action also uncovered a “nightmare” housing issue, where ten adults and three children were found living crammed inside a three-bedroom flat and sharing one toilet and a tiny kitchen.

Officers also issued five notices for waste management and trading standards carried out compliance checks on the sale of fireworks and tobacco, which saw one business cautioned. A total of 14 fines were issued for offences including littering, spitting, and street drinking.

Harrow borough police Superintendent Matt Cray said: “I was delighted that my officers supported this second week of action coordinated by Harrow Council. It was great to see us working collaboratively to address community concerns and make the borough a safer place for all.” 

He added: “My teams will continue to prioritise neighbourhood policing and seek to support such initiatives going forward as I believe they make a real, positive difference to people’s lives.”