Families in Bradley Stoke say overnight roadworks to build a new cycle path, bus lane and pedestrian crossings have made getting any rest “impossible”. The two-year road improvement project began in the spring and is set to continue until the end of 2026, but residents say the disruption from the late-night work is taking a serious toll on their health and wellbeing.
Jess Ridge, who lives directly behind the current construction site, said the work often “goes on until 2am” and that even with the windows shut “the whole house vibrates”. She has two children, one of whom is sitting GCSE mock exams, and said the noise is having a “huge impact on his mental health, he is really struggling”.
Last week, overnight work took place from Monday to Thursday. Jess said there was “a JCB digging outside my son’s bedroom window into the early hours”. She described the lack of sleep as exhausting and said that both she and her neighbours feel there is a “lack of acknowledgment and empathy from the council”.
She recalled being woken during the summer by “sudden drilling” that sounded like an “aeroplane engine being blown up”. It turned out to be high-powered blow torches melting the tarmac, which released fumes that “literally filled the house”. Jess said the noise and smell “frightened my daughter to death”. She later learned from South Gloucestershire Council that this was emergency work, so residents were not notified in advance.
Residents say it is not just the machinery causing problems. The “flashing lights, beeping their machines constantly and shouting at each other” make it impossible to sleep. Many accept that the road improvements are necessary, but they are asking for a compromise such as stopping the work at midnight rather than continuing into the early hours.
Another resident living on Bradley Stoke Way with her four-year-old son said: “It’s really bad. I’m getting no sleep.” The 33-year-old mother said the constant disturbance has “impacted the quality of my work”. She suffers from migraines, which she believes have worsened due to the lack of rest. Like others, she has complained to the council and questioned why the work cannot be done during the day instead.
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “We understand these works will have an impact on nearby residents. We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption and delays whilst construction takes place.” The council added that it will “monitor the situation closely, making adjustments where possible to minimise the impact”.
The multi-million pound project aims to make travel in, out and around Bradley Stoke quicker and easier, with new cycle lanes, footpaths, improved bus stops, an additional bus priority lane and upgraded pedestrian crossings.
