People of all ages can find it difficult to communicate in restaurants, cafés and pubs where background noise can reach very high levels – whether it be music or the general clatter caused by the acoustics of the space. Luke Dixon, campaigner at Action on Hearing Loss, outlines the problem and calls on managers of  spaces made for socialising to make sure noise levels make them  fit for social interaction.   For many of us, dining […]

When planning outdoor events in the summer its crucial to consider noise – to protect health of workers and keep the peace with neighbours. Here are some tips on avoiding noise problems from professional event planners. Summer is fast approaching and the outdoor events season is gearing up. If you’re involved in planning an event, it’s crucial to ensure noise isn’t so loud that it’s a potential threat to the hearing of those working at […]

Following a short discusion last week the House of Lords agreed to endorse the extension of pub opening hours for two hours beyond 11pm, for the Queen’s official birthday of June 10th and 11th. The view was presented that this would save the time and expense of pubs wishing to mark the occassion applying for Temporary Event Notices to extend their hours. This debate has been seen before – when extended licensing was approved for […]

Noise Action Week welcomes the continued inclusion of noise exposure as an indicator of public health in the revised Public Health Outcomes Framework, published today by the Department of Health.   These indicators are intended to be used to inform decisions impacting on public health.  There are three public health indicators for noise are based on information currently collected, covering people affected by transport noise and the rate of complaints about noise to local authorities. Noise […]

It’s that time of year when students of all ages need quiet time as they knuckle down to study for exams. A survey earlier this year found that noise from housemates causes annoyance for flats sharers – which may be a surprise to families and working people living in neighbourhoods where late night noise from shared student accommodation often keeps them awake! We should all be able to have fun – but late night loud […]

The story of the supermarket manager who is introducing an hour for quiet shopping in his Asda store on a Saturday morning  has received widespread attention. Initially inspired by observing a mother struggling to shop with a boy with autism, the move has been met with overwhelming approval by other customers. Having talked to parents of children with autism, he wants to provide respite for shoppers and their carers, where increased sensitivity to noise makes […]

Now is the time for getting to grips with the garden. Pottering in the garden can be peaceful, but power tools used for mowing, blowing and chopping can blight your whole neighbourhood with noise. Whether you have a small city space, a suburban garden or an allotment, if you’re pulling out the power tools ready for a session this week, remember gardens don’t have walls and your neighbours will hear what you’re doing. While power […]

With the night time economy seen as the saviour of many cities – would Night Mayors bring harmony between the sleepless and those wanting to sleep? With the late night bars, buses, kebab shops and clubs that keep our cities lively we also get noise. How can the sleep rneeds of workers (maybe the cleaners and street sweepers who rise as the revellers head to bed) be reconciled with the lifestyles of 24 hour party […]

From today, 6 April 2016, planning legislation has been amended to ensure that noise impacts from nearby commercial activity is taken into consideration before change of use of an existing building from office to residential use can be carried out.  This amendment to the permitted development right brought in April 2013, is being welcomed by music industry campaigners who have blamed noise complaints for putting many small music venues under threat of closure. While Environmental […]

Press release Just one visit to a bar or night club playing loud music could damage your hearing forever, according to a report published this week. Noise levels recorded inside several night clubs and bars were between 85-100 decibels – well above the UK’s Health Executive recommended safe level of 84 decibels. The World Health Organisation recently said up to 1.1 billion 12 to 35-year-olds are at risk of developing noise induced hearing loss as […]