LEGAL action has been taken out to stop late-night building work on the seafront bowling alley - because it was so loud residents couldn't even watch television.

LEGAL action has been taken out to stop late-night building work on the seafront bowling alley - because it was so loud residents couldn't even watch television.Within three hours of complaints from residents in The Beacon, Trefussis Terrace and Louisa Terrace last Thursday evening, town councillor John Humphries had ensured district council environmental health officers had served a notice under the Control of Pollution Act.Cllr Humphries said: "The site was lit up like a grand stadium - lights galore."Residents were furious that heavy machinery and lights were still in action at 11.20pm ... almost 18 hours after work had commenced."He immediately asked them to stop - but workers said they had instructions from their boss to finish the work."I had no option but to call in the East Devon Council Enforcement Officer."We want to see this significant project - but that doesn't mean that they should be wrecking the peace and quiet of local people."Mary Nash of Trefussis Terrace said: "I was damned annoyed." She said "We don't even go to bed that early."Stephanie Story who lives on the corner of Louisa Terrace and Carlton Hill said: "We had the windows shut and it still drowned out the TV."It had been going on all day. We normally go to bed early, because my husband isn't terribly well."But there wasn't much point. It even kept the dog awake."We would have been more amenable if we had some warning."Owner Mark Quinn of Harlequinns Leisure said: "We told the council we would be working late - we had to put the floors in and it was going to take until midnight."He added: "The critical stage of concrete setting often takes to midnight, and it was unavoidable."But a district council spokesman said the noise levels were "unacceptably high".He added: "Since the contractor had not explained to residents the nature of what was happening, nor had he given them prior warning of the noise levels or the predicted finish time and no formal consent had been issued for noisy night works, she served a notice under the Control of Pollution Act requiring the noisy works to cease, which was complied with."Officers have now agreed with the contractor that nearby residents and council officers will be given notice of noisy works.