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 […]

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 […]

Better late than never - we’ve had a quick look to see what the political parties promise on noise in their manifestos – and its mostly a bit quiet. Here’s a summary of what they say: Conservatives – specifically mention noise saying better noise barriers will be a part of their planned improved road network. They also promise a programme of pocket parks to provide respite from city streets. Labour - offer to replace low […]

The Chartered Institute for Environmental Health are adding their voice to the pre-election noise and have published their own manifesto setting public health priorities. Proper consideration of noise by planning is included - in the interests of a healthy environment and safe, healthy communities - as it should be. This welcome manifesto flags up the current issue of planning and noise in urban areas – where recent adjustments to planning guidance are shifting the onus […]

Motor cycles often cause anti social noise problems - especially when exhausts are tampered with to achieve powerful sounding noise. The International Motorcycle Federation is recognising the need for motor cycle sport enthusiasts to keep the noise down and avoid annoyance to neighbours. They have produced a Ride Quiet campaign and are encouraging their networks to promote quieter riding, saying: “Very often, the sound produced by motorcycle activities can become a nuisance to people living […]

In February EPUK, CIEH and the Noise Abatement Society wrote to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles with a Freedom of Information request, asking for evidence to support his assertion implying that local authorities have been misusing their powers when enforcing noise laws. In a statement made on 2nd February Mr Pickles was quoted as saying `In recent years, too many town halls have been over-zealous in trying to silence church bells and village clocks which have […]

Research published by the government last week showed that more people than ever are bothered by noise. Nearly half the people surveyed said their home life is spoilt by noise to some extent and one in five reported their sleep is disturbed by noise. This makes Noise Action Week 2015, which aims to raise awareness of noise problems and promote practical solutions to noise, more important than ever this year. The week runs from 18th […]

The pros and cons of night-time freight deliveries have been hotly debated between industry, government departments and professional and lobbying groups concerned with noise for a number of years. But the latest contribution by the Department for Transport is, unfortunately, set to be rejected says Howard Price, Principal Policy Officer at CIEH, as the Noise Abatement Society and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health have this week united in criticising proposed revised Guidance. This new […]

Elmbridge Borough Council in Surrey used Noise Action Week promotion to launch development of their scheme to manage noise from licensed premises. Paul Leadbeater, Principal Environmental Health Officer outlines how this scheme and a Noise Toolkit is helping to keep the peace between neighbours. The Elmbridge BC Noise Code for Licensed Premises (NCLP) was originally launched for consultation during Noise Action Week 2012. This launch took place at a well attended event for the borough’s […]

Micheal Eade is an experienced environmental health practitioner with a background in law. With the publication this week of long awaited Planning Practice Guidance, he uses recent cases to examine the role of planning in preventing noise problems in mixed developments. So often complaints of noise come about as a consequence of conflict between the proximity of residential property to commercial or industrial premises. To a certain extent, different land uses and activities need to […]