The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

8 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
increase exposure to outdoor noise, although there is a range of potential
effects and adaptations. 4
Box 7: Transport
The Mayor’s Transport Strategy aims to accommodate the bulk of
increased demand for travel on greatly expanded and improved public
transport. Taking account of the demographic and employment
assumptions set out in the Transport Strategy, and assuming availability of
funding for the full programme of proposed transport improvements, the
following broad changes in weekday travel patterns are expected between
2001 and 2011:
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forty per cent more bus passengers across London, alongside a similar
increase in bus capacity;
fifteen per cent increase in peak capacity on the existing
Underground network;
nine per cent more morning peak passengers on National Rail Services
in London (excluding Crossrail and Thameslink), alongside an increase
in capacity of 12 per cent;
reduction of 15 per cent in Central London traffic, reducing growth
from 4.5 per cent to zero in Inner London, and reducing the rate of
traffic growth in Outer London to no more than five per cent - with
greater traffic reductions in sensitive locations.
As a major world city London requires high quality international links. The
range of international connections from London’s airports, and now the
Channel Tunnel Rail Link, makes London an attractive place in which to
invest. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy recognises that London’s
international transport links should be improved and expanded, but that
this should be achieved in an environmentally sustainable fashion.
Pollution, including noise, caused by air travel and road transport to and
around Heathrow is a major concern.
Adverse impacts of noise
2.4 Sound can be generated by many different sources, and much of it plays
an important positive role in people’s lives - including communication,
cues about the environments in which people live, and culture. However,
it can also have negative effects. Noise can have many different effects
on people, as described in Guidelines produced for the World Health
Organisation. 5 The evidence base is more diverse than for many other
environmental issues.
2.5 The Government has stated that it will continue to support research in
this area. Work is also proceeding internationally, through European