News Archive - Noise Action Week

Noise Action Week aims to promote practical solutions to everyday noise problems. During Noise Action Week Thurrock Council, will be raising awareness of the impacts of noise in Thurrock and drawing your attention to the simple measures that can be taken to prevent noise problems.

We have noticed that over the last few years the number of noise related complaints had doubled. In 2006 Thurrock Borough Council received a total of 1682 noise related complaints. 79% of all received complaints were domestic noise complaints and the remaining 21% (349 complaints) we as follows:

Car noise- 14%
Commercial noise- 25%
Entertainment noise- 54% (the majority of 'entertainment noise' complaints (190) were those of loud music)
Street noise - 2%
Miscellaneous noise- 5%

The majority of 'Domestic Complaints (757) were those related to loud music, followed by barking dogs (18%), miscellaneous, most of which were related to moving vehicles (9%), antisocial behaviour (8%) and DIY (4%). Complaints about burglar alarms, those related to laminate flooring and loud TV constituted 1% of total domestic noise complaints each. Complaints about the church services, cockerel and fireworks were less than 1% (6, 5 and 6 complaints respectively).

During the Noise Action Week 21 - 27 May 2007 there will be displays of educational resources at the Thurrock Council's Offices ground floor reception, New Road, Grays and Costco supermarket in West Thurrock. Leaflets and advice will also be available from local libraries. Please feel free to pick up any resources and to contact Council's Environmental Health Team for advice and information.

Gifford Primary School will participate in a drawing competition titled "Stop That Noise". The winners of the competition will be awarded with prizes! The week will culminate with a promotional display at the Grays Shopping Centre. Councils Officers will be available at the stand to provide you with the advice, information and even free gifts!

Noise can cause disruption and distress to everyone - at home, at leisure, at work and at study. There is no doubt that our capacity to make noise is increasing. National research1 shows that noise control officers across the UK think that incompatible lifestyles and high expectation of quiet are the reasons for many complaints. Noise affects everyone's quality of life, and the number of noise complaints is increasing.2

Councillor Garry Hague, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "Excessive noise can amount to anti-social behaviour. The number of neighbourhood noise complaints received has doubled in recent years. The out of hours service allows us to tackle noise nuisance at the weekend, when problems are most likely to occur."

For Noise Action Week everybody is urged to:

1. Consider the noise they make and the effect it has on others.
2. Consider the noises that disturb them.
3. Use our practical solutions to everyday noise problems.

Be a considerate neighbour by following the Sound Advice to help you deal with domestic din:

Muffle that music- keep the volume down and place your speakers and TV sets away from partition walls, floors and ceilings
Party peace- if you have a party warn the neighbours in advance
Banish barking- make sure your dog had enough exercise and company
Be a quieter consumer- operate noisy appliances at sensible hours
Don't alarm your neighbours- register the key holder of our house alarm with the Council's Environmental Health Department or Police
DYI din- do the noisy jobs when it will least disturb your neighbours
Flooring- before sanding your floors down or laying the laminate flooring consider the layout of the rooms
Garden grooming and car repairs- use power tools with discretion
Sssh- Do not shout - in properties with poor insulation everyone can hear you!
Finally- Fireworks- they frighten pets and people and can harm hearing.

Further information on noise nuisances and sources of environmental noise, including practical solutions, such as "How to Avoid Your Dog Barking" and "How to Keep Peace With Your Neighbours" can be found on Thurrock Council's website:
http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/environment/nuisance

Thurrock Council's Out Of Hours Noise Service (OOH) can be contacted on 01375 372468. The OOH Service will recommence its operation at the end of May.

More from: Environmental Health & Trading Standards Service, Sustainable Communities or Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Thurrock, Essex RM17 6SL, Tel: (01375) 652386.

Noise Action Week 2007 is co-ordinated by NSCA with support from the Noise Abatement Society. For more information on NAW nationally contact noiseactionweek@nsca.org.uk or visit www.noiseactionweek.org.uk