August noise news round-up

The summer holidays are finally over; the kids are back to school and everyone is back to work. However, that doesn’t mean that August was a quiet month for noise news. Let’s take a look at some of the stories that made the headlines over the last few weeks.

Paving the way for noise reduction on motorways

A pioneering noise barrier is to be installed on a section of the M1 motorway in Yorkshire, in a bid to reduce noise pollution.

Scheduled for the Denby Dale junction (J39) near Wakefield, the barriers will be the first of their kind in the UK, offering local residents some much-needed solice from the cacophonous racket of the thousands of vehicles that travel up and down the country every day. Four sections of the barrier will be built this winter on the carriageways and the entry slip roads, with three of the sections standing three metres tall. The other, smaller section will be 1.85 metres in height.

Highways England project manager, Sujad Hussain, said: “There has been a long-standing issue of noise from the motorway at this location, and by installing four sections of the barrier, we will be able to improve noise levels for residents living nearby.”

Something to shout about – National Noise Awards now open for nominations

UK Companies are now being invited to enter the Noise Abatement Society’s (NAS) national John Connell Awards.

With the ceremony being held at the Palace of Westminster on 24tth October 2018, these prestigious awards recognise the importance of sound quality, and reward organisations committed to reducing noise pollution. Nominations close on the 14th September.
Now in its 17th year, the popular Quiet Logistics category is open to operators, vehicle manufacturers, trailer-makers, vehicle body builders and ancillary equipment suppliers, which have created quieter products, services and programmes to facilitate safe, low-noise and efficient urban distribution services in the past year.
The other categories open for nominations at the John Connell Awards are:
  • Local authority award
  • Soundscape award
  • Innovation award
  • Silent approach Quiet Mark™ award distinction

http://noiseabatementsociety.com/john-connell-awards

Noise nuisance taken seriously in India

A district in India has introduced 20 “silent” zones during the upcoming festival season and is deploying officers with sound level meters to ensure locals adhere to the new ruling.

The zones are typically within a 100m radius around sensitive areas such as schools, religious sites and hospitals, and officers will be handing out fines or confiscating equipment from any violators. Certain high-pitch stereo sound systems and instruments have already been banned in Kohlapur, in the west of the country.

UB40 noise pest loses stereo

A man who played UB40 songs so loudly that he made his neighbour’s floor shake, has had his sound system confiscated.

Pendle Council said an environmental officer sent to investigate the complaint in Colne, experienced “one of the worst nuisances” he had ever witnessed and physically felt the vibration from the bass being turned up so high.

Yet despite being warned, the man continued to play the popular 80s Brit reggae music, leading to the council seizing his speakers and a soundbar. He could still face prosecution and future costs.

Clarke Roberts

Senior Marketing Executive at Cirrus Research plc

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