http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/victims_of_bullies_1_1148896

Just a thought,

Nowhere in the article does it say whether or not anyone actually measured the noise levels as there are statutory limits.

As a result there is no objective comment on whether there was an actual noise nuisance rather than the council assuming that because there was a complaint there must be one. I would be surprised if a pub's air conditioning was that noisy even if it was old or in need of servicing nor would I expect it to create a high pitched whine which can be intensely annoying even at quite low noise levels.