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UK environmental noise

This Month's headlines

June 2020 headlines

Covid special

Noise Bulletin: adapting to the virus

Consultants, local authorities and pressure groups are all affected by the pandemic with many working from home and/or furloughed. Some organisations have asked us not to send in paper copies.
Noise Bulletin is assessing how best to respond to this – and readers’ home working – and the best option may be to handle news online for the foreseeable future.
Could readers please let me have their email address so we can make this happen!
email jackpease@empublishing.co.uk

No sealed prison for Bridgend

A planning inspector has refused a development that required sealed windows to mitigate noise. The council described it as an ‘acoustic prison’

Abatement notice took too long to serve

Bromley Council was has been told to apologise over its handling of a complaint about delivery noise at a local shop. 

Highways survey

Highways England is to pay for a survey of existing and future road noise levels. 

Noise mapping data repackaged

Defra noise mapping data has been repackaged by Noise Consultants ltd. 

Home schooling

The ANC and IoA have put together a home schooling resources with lesson plans and ideas for children and students. 

Covid impact revealed by IoA survey

An IoA survey has revealed the impact of the virus on acousticians in the UK. 

Wales approach welcomed

The Welsh Branch of the IoA has welcomed Welsh Government plans to update its TAN planning guidance (Noise Bulletin March p10). The TAN places far more emphasis on soundscapes than hitherto.

24-hour building possible for one year

Builders have been allowed temporary extensions to working hours - up to 24 hours - to facilitate safe working and allow tasks to be completed where social distancing can be challenging. 

Sheffield protects noise complainant

Sheffield City Council has successfully fought off an attempt to make it reveal who made a noise complaint. 

Etsu arguments scupper already-built windfarm

The Irish High Court has overturned planning permission for the Bear na Gaoithe wind farm in County Cork.

Abatement notice valid says High Court

A noise abatement notice can be served on an individual suffering from Tourette’s. More

Scout camp appeal

Housing can be built next to a scout campsite in Mill Hill, North London. More

Stables back to appeal on deed of easement

Developers have challenged a decision to require a ‘deed of easement’ for future occupants for housing next to the Milton Keynes The Stables music venue.

Waste firm fails to get extended hours

A waste firm has failed in its appeal to get extended hours at its Meriden works.

Aviation rethink on noise, says ICCAN

The UK’s Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN) is calling on the government to make managing noise a key priority when aviation levels start to recover following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tip height pressure to test the courts

Scotland Against Spin has published legal advice on the issue of repowering of wind turbines. Replacing smaller turbines with larger ones creates obvious changes in the sound landscape and increased risk of amplitude modulation problems.

Sepa loses patience on Mosmorran flaring

Sepa is to prosecute Exxon Mobil for continued flaring at its Scottish Mosmorran petrochems plant. The flaring has caused complaints both on air quality and noise grounds.

Sound Bite column

Oh dear. What could possibly go wrong!