The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 193
5 integrated noise management
5.1 Noise is a complex pollutant, with many different implications for people,
many of them highly dependent on context. Improving the noise
environment of a changing city, with its many competing pressures, will
require concerted analysis and action across many levels. Relationships
between ‘ambient’ and ‘nuisance’ noise have been considered where relevant
in previous chapters. Recognising that the Greater London Authority Act
1999 excludes certain noise sources from the definition of ‘ambient noise’,
this final chapter highlights the need for an integrated approach.
Box 59: Issues for national strategy
‘Noise occupies a paradoxical position in terms of UK environment policy.
By contrast with other pollutants, it is almost universal in our urban areas,
is increasingly encroaching on rural, “tranquil” areas, and is progressively
eroding the period of night-time quiet. Despite this, the control of noise
has never been subject to an overarching policy or legislative framework,
in the same way as, for example, air quality or waste disposal. This neglect
may be partially explained by the fact that the effects of noise on the
general population have been historically easy to overlook. In addition,
the nature of noise, and the reaction of people to it, does not lend it
easily to the sort of mechanistic approach available to other pollutants.’ 1
5.2 UK noise policy and legislation has developed incrementally, seeking to
contain the worst problems. A shift to more pro-active approaches
increases the importance of integrating action on ambient noise with
other noise issues. For example, reducing road traffic in a mixed use town
centre could mean that noise from pubs or cafés becomes more
perceptible to residents. An integrated approach could include securing
support from venue operators for better area management. Noise policy
needs to take an integrated view across all sources, if cost-effectiveness is
to be secured (see also paragraph 4.2).
5.3 When discussing what annoys them, people often refer to specific noises
rather than broad categories of noise - ‘motor bikes’ rather than traffic;
‘music’ or ‘dogs’ rather than the general noise level in their neighbourhood.
Policy needs to consider not just long term ‘averaged noise’, but the ‘noise
events’ within it. Policy needs to consider people’s overall exposure as they
move through their daily lives - on the way to work, at work, and in leisure
activities. Understanding of combined effects needs to be further
developed. People’s priorities may vary across London, and between
different groups of Londoners. A multi-source approach focused on the
individual implies action at the level closest to communities.
policy 79
The Mayor will urge the Government, in its proposed work on adverse
effects, to support studies of personal noise exposure in complex urban