An around-the-clock drilling operation in a park is having a "major impact" on the lives of local residents by causing headaches and sleep deprivation.

The pumping station at Hailey Park, in Cardiff, has been a long-standing issue in the area, with one resident saying she can "feel it" almost everywhere in her house.

While plans were approved in 2022, a series of delays, a legal challenge and damage to machinery caused by a waterlogged site has meant progress has moved slowly.

Welsh Water said the 24-hour tunnelling is required to "carry out this phase of the work safely" and it was working with residents to mitigate the disturbances as much as possible.

The operation intends to pump sewage from the planned Plasdwr housing development to an existing sewage system, in order for a developer to build 7,000 homes.

Campaigners initially expressed concerns about the sewage plant being built in 2023 saying it would affect their community in the Llandaff North area of Cardiff.

A legal challenge was lost as Welsh Water said the sewage pumping station was needed to deal with the excess sewage from the Plasdwr housing development. Permission was granted to conduct the work in September 2026, with work beginning later that month.

When the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited the site, the sound was measured at 50 decibels which is equivalent to a moderate rainfall. It could be heard from the Melingriffith Water Pump, a historic monument, just under half a kilometre away.

Steph Wilkins, 56, who was involved in the failed legal challenge against the drilling works, told LDRS that the vibrations from the site were having a major impact on her life.

She said: "In my house, there's only one spot that I can sit down in, where I don't feel it as much.

"Last night, I had to go and stay with a friend who lives down the road, just to get away from the noise because it was affecting my sleep." She also said the vibrations were causing her motor sickness, headaches and earaches and that she could no longer use her garden due to the noise and vibrations. She said Welsh Water has been "totally inconsiderate" with local residents.

Another resident Milly Hardy, 37, called the noise "really frustrating" and said that it had been a hot topic of conversation in the neighbourhood.

Amanda Smith, 60, said the constant background noise was "annoying" and said she was most annoyed about the "lack of communication" from the authorities.

Milly moved to the area with her family just before the drilling operation had begun and said it would "definitely" have impacted their decision.

She added: "I just think that there's been no real consideration to the locals and to the wildlife." A Welsh Water spokesperson said they are using acoustic noise barriers and continuous noise monitoring around the site. "We would like to thank local residents for their patience and understanding while this work is carried out."