The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 179
noise enforcement and other local services which could be needed. Ensuring
sufficient resources for area management is particularly important in mixed
use centres. This includes sufficient staff in borough Environmental Health
Departments to provide efficient and responsive services. 28
Box 52: 24 hour society
■ People’s lifestyles are changing, with growing demand for eating,
drinking and other facilities, not just leisure, to be open for longer
hours. Home banking, home shopping and other demands imply more
late night activities from call centres to hot food deliveries. More late
night eating out, drinking and entertainment, in Central London, in
town centres or elsewhere, means more noise in traditionally quieter
parts of the day. However, although activities in some locations may
extend into the evening and beyond, this does not mean that all parts
of London are equally affected, or need be in future.
■ Late night London is not just about consumption. Some media, finance
and other businesses, including those with real time global links, work
round the clock. Courier firms have extensive night operations. The
National Health Service and other public and utility services need to
operate 24 hours a day. Concern has been expressed as to the health
implications of 24 hour activity patterns. 29
■ Those who work at night may themselves be trying to sleep during the
day, rather than the night. With more flexible working practices, more
people are likely to be going to bed and/or getting up outside the
traditionally quieter ‘core’ 11 pm to 6 or 7 am period. This reinforces
the need for reducing ambient noise levels across day, evening and
night, and achieving effective standards for sleeping accommodation.
Box 53: Some locational issues
■ Local clustering of bars and other late night venues in suitable streets
or on frontages well-screened from noise-sensitive uses could enable
limited sound ‘break-out’ to be permitted. This could be a positive city
soundscape feature in recognised entertainment locations. In this
context, limited use separation could add to the richness of the urban
experience, rather than detract from it.
■ Location and orientation of venue entrances, street design, and
lighting should encourage patrons to use routes to night bus stops,
night taxi points or other facilities which minimise the risk of
disturbance to residents. Clustering late night activities on distinct
nodes and links can make the system more ‘legible’ for users. Noise
from people departing from late night pubs, clubs and other venues
could become more noticeable where traffic noise is most reduced.
Relating late night activities clearly to main transport routes should
help to minimise exposure.