The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

154 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
with specialist resources, such as the London Port Health Authority, than
by each London borough with a relevant mooring or berth. Co-ordination
will be needed, for example, related to noise from people leaving piers
late at night. It is vital that licensing fees cover not just the issue of a
license, but the costs of enforcement 3 , and any other public services
which may be required.
4D.9 Craft on London’s canals serve far fewer people, and in typically more low
key ways, than do Thames riverboats. Passenger and other services
operate on the Regent’s Canal. British Waterways continues to review the
potential for increasing the numbers travelling on other waterways,
through a range of initiatives, and incorporates noise where necessary in
its management of competing needs. It regulates canal operators through
licensing and operating agreements, which include operating times and
boarding arrangements.
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The Mayor will urge the Government, in regulations and guidance in respect
of vessels defined in section 189(1) of the Licensing Act 2003, to ensure
that resources for enforcement and other services are adequate, having
regard to the particular issues of night noise associated with Thames ‘party
boats’. Partnership working between the London Port Health Authority, the
London boroughs and others with relevant responsibilities, should seek a
clear and effective framework for river noise management.
Wharves, boatyards and waterside planning
4D.10 In mid 2001, some 40 of the 55 wharves in the Port of London, within
the GLA boundary, were operational. Much of the material handled is
bulk. Aggregates, steel, cereals and municipal wastes are important (see
paragraph 4E.23 on special issues related to aggregates). Strategic and
local planning policies have sought to offer protection to river freight
handling facilities. Regional guidance 4 stated that ‘the movement of
goods by water rather than road can help relieve traffic congestion and air
and noise pollution, and is consistent with the principle of sustainable
development.’ In parallel with guidance, the Government issued directions
introducing a system of wharf safeguarding, to ensure that water freight
facilities could not easily be lost to other forms of development. This
power has been transferred to the Mayor.
4D.11 The Mayor, in consultation with the Port of London Authority and the
riparian local authorities, reviewed 29 currently safeguarded upstream
wharves, and 42 proposed sites downstream of the Thames Barrier, in the
context of the London Plan, new trade forecasts to 2015, associated port
capacity requirements and general cargo-handling trends. 5 The Mayor
seeks protection and use of relevant wharves for sustainable distribution.