The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 207
Sounds of the city
5.32 Better soundscape management should not be seen as a ‘killjoy’ activity.
Sound plays many positive roles in people’s lives. Big cities have buzz, but
they also need balance. Awareness-raising needs to be approached
carefully in the case of noise. There is some indication that ‘increased
sensitivity to noise’ may have been one of the outcomes of the Darlington
Quiet Town Experiment. 18 Some forms of noise awareness campaigning
could be counter-productive if not cruel, if they increased individual’s
sensitivity to noise faster than noise was reduced.
5.33 However, encouraging creative exploration of city soundscapes, such as
through cultural projects, could enrich personal experience while helping
to create the context for practical improvements in city noise
environments. Recognition of the value of cross-disciplinary soundscape
work in understanding people’s responses, and engaging people in new
approaches to change, is growing. 19 20 Cities need, not just more effective
noise control, but more ‘sound-conscious’ design and management.
Soundscape quality and diversity need to be enhanced, so that people
have more chance to enjoy, rather than neglect or need to escape, their
sound worlds.
policy 97
The Mayor will encourage arts organisations, sponsors and others to
promote creative exploration of city soundscapes, in ways which both enrich
personal experience and help create the context for practical improvements.