Noisy Neighbours.

Does anyone know if there is anything that can be done about noisy neighbours. When we first bought our house we were told that our neighbour was a farmer although he only kept a few cattle. Since then he has stopped farming, sold his land & has started a company selling second hand farm machinery. There is now constant noise from various machines be revved up & tested, his large low loader lorry bringing in equipment & customers coming & going. He always seems to be using some noisy machine or other & we are quite honestly sick of the constant noise. We have decided to sell up but potential buyers are put of by the activities & mess next door & this is devaluing our property. I have found a registered company for him so I assume it's all legit & there's probably nothing we can do. I've thought of going to the Maire but if we can't sell & end up staying here I don't want to cause any trouble. Has anyone got any ideas?

Don't know if you can read frenc, here an official site on the issue:
http://www.prefecturedepolice.interieur.gouv.fr/Vos-demarches/Autres-demarches/Nuisances-sonores
Try with Google translate to understand the essential.

But keep in mind after a "plainte" neighbor relationship could goes to war if he is a man of bad faith and nasty.

Did you try to explain him with wariness the trouble you suffer?

Before complaint, ask advise to your local Police or Gendarmerie. Maybe they can help you to solve amicably.

Thank you Very19 for the advice, I will look at the website you recommended.

Yesterday evening at 20h00 he continued with the noise & also left an engine running & we could smell the diesel fumes in the house as all the doors & windows were open. This occurs regularly at all hours. One morning we were woken at 06h00 by a constant beeping from something. We have also been woken in the early hours by activity & noise although this is rare but they do continue with the noise in the evenings & at weekends.

Everyone has to make a living but not to the detriment of others. He seems a nice enough bloke but due to my poor French we don't converse & tend to stick to waving & bonjour. I'm sure I could explain the problem to him but I know I will struggle to understand his response.

There are times when it's fairly quiet during the daytime but then he'll arrive home at about 17h00 & the noise will start. I also feel bad for inflicting this on any potential buyer but I certainly don't want to advertise the problem as no-one will be interested, it's a very difficult situation.

Do you have any French speaking friends who could maybe act as interpreter for you, so that you could approach him on a friendly neighbourly basis to explain your concerns and see if a compromise can be reached?

Is it annoying anyone else in the vicinity?
Maybe you could all get together and ask him nicely to limit the noise?

We are the only 2 properties in the road so no-one else is affected.
We do have friends who could interpret for us, I just need to pluck up the courage to go round there but the direct approach is probably best before getting the Maire or authorities involved, that should be a last resort I suppose.
I hate confrontations though, I'm a bit of a coward  

You could perhaps tell him that you understand that he has a business, but ask him if he could stop the noise from machinery between say 19:00 - 08:00 hours and on Sunday (for example)? Offering ideas for a compromise could soften the argument perhaps.

Bon courage, these things are never easy.

Depends on the bloke if ok a bottle of wine and an invite to him and his family for a meal and get together can work wonders !! but if an a----hole ,the marie ect but tres dificile ,hope the first plan works  keep a friend with good french handy .