CIEH Noise Survey 2019 (UK)

A very progressive move by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in the UK.

The survey will be open until 31 July 2019

This year the survey is being supported by RH Environmental (RHE).

Why is CIEH noise survey important?

This noise survey provides the only source of regular national information on the important contribution made by environmental health professionals working to resolve noise and noise nuisance complaints.

Some of the data from CIEH’s survey has also been adopted into the Public Health Outcomes Framework which is administered by Public Health England (PHE). This provides an important link between noise and health outcomes. As the department responsible for setting national policy on noise, Department for the Environment, Food, Rural Affairs, also draw on CIEH data on noise. The data was also referenced in the Chief Medical Officer annual report of 2017 to emphasise the importance of noise as a public health issue.

We will also be using the data to engage with Welsh Government, to try and establish a stronger understanding of the links between noise and public health.

How will we use this data?

We will be sharing the data received with colleagues at DEFRA and PHE. CIEH will also use it to inform media press releases to highlight the work of EHPs.

What has changed?

CIEH has been running its noise survey since 2000 and collecting noise data from local authorities for much longer than that. However, with the response rates slowly dropping over recent years, we took a break last year in order to improve the survey and make it easier and simpler to submit.

How you can help

By providing us with information on the number of noise complaints received in a 12 month period and your work to resolve these in your local area. We are interested in as much or as little data you can provide – everything is useful.

Who would we like data from?

We are only collecting data from England and Wales. This is because Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own data collections systems in place, led by central Government. No such collections exist in England and Wales.

What data do I have to provide?

We will ask you some basic questions about which LA you’re submitting data for and the timeframe the data is for (financial year or other).

Minimum required information:

Total number of noise complaints received
Total number of notices served
Staffing levels for noise related work

Additional (optional) information:

Total number of prosecutions
The size of the population served by the LA
Breakdowns of noise complaints by sector

If you have any difficulties completing this survey or need to contact us for any reason, please email: policy@cieh.org

April 24, 2019

International Noise Awareness Day

Its International Noise Awareness Day today…..

All over the world, people, organizations, and governments will commemorate the 24th Annual International Noise Awareness Day (INAD) on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.

Eco Eye Diarmuid Keaney

Do you have a noise issue? Why not log it on Ireland’s ONLY noise complaint website to help increase NOISE AWARENESS.

March 20, 2019May 18, 2020

Noise Complaints fall in Burlington.

Noise complaints fall in Burlington – but Hill Area is still the loudest

Houses in Burlington’s Hill Section. Seen here on March 18, 2019.

JESS ALOE/FREE PRESS

Burlington is getting quieter.

Between 2012 and 2018, the number of noise complaints the Burlington police responded to fell by more than half.

Burlington Police Department data shows 775 incidents flagged as “noise” last year, just about 1,000 fewer calls than in 2012.

Incidents responded to by the Burlington Police Department flagged as “noise” types. Data from the Burlington Police Department.

JESS ALOE/FREE PRESS

The biggest reduction came from the city’s noisiest neighborhood — the University/Hill Section. In 2012, the University of Vermont partnered with the city’s Code Enforcement Office and police to quiet the neighborhood through increased police patrols and outreach to landlords of “problem properties.”

The university also pays for the police to step up patrols in the area during typically problematic times.

Restorative Noise program

Rachel Jolly runs Burlington’s Restorative Noise program, which allows residents who receive noise tickets for parties — called “social noise” — to reduce the amount of the fine by participating in a two-hour session and doing community service.

More: Quiet UVM students make good neighbors

The session, she said, gives offenders the chance to build a deeper sense of connection with their neighborhoods.

Materials for UVM’s “Have a Heart campaign, which uses a child’s drawing and chocolates to encourage students to keep noise down

JESS ALOE/FREE PRESS

“So often, the ticket receivers are college students who came from other communities,” she said.

Non-“social noise” offenders can also reduce their fines by doing community service, but Jolly said the majority of the cases she sees stem from parties.

More: Police tout foot patrol success in student areas

They’ve seen a dramatic decrease in the past few years. From 2010 to 2015, the program averaged 88 noise cases per year. Last year, they handled 8.

Noise by the numbers – 2012 to 2018

Noisiest neighborhood: The University/Hill Section. Nearly half of all noise complaints — 47 percent — came from the student-heavy area around the University of Vermont.

Quietest neighborhood: The New North End. Just under 6 percent of all noise issues originated in the Queen City’s northern reaches.

Noisiest months: August and September. Noise incidents tend to peak in the early fall, as students return to school and some move off-campus for the first time.

Noisiest day of the week: Saturday, though Friday and Sunday also generated high numbers of complaints.

More: Burlington’s student-dense Ward 8 works get out the vote on Town Meeting Day

Tips for a respectful party

The Burlington Community Justice Center offers several tips for “respectful parties.”

Tell your neighbors you’ll be hosting a party, and give them your phone number so they can call you if it gets too loud.
Invite only a manageable number of guests. Turn away people you don’t know.
Minimize gatherings on front porches and yards after 10 p.m.
Keep windows closed.
Walk around outside to check the noise level.

Contact Jess Aloe at 802-660-1874 or jaloe@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @jess_aloe

March 7, 2019August 3, 2019

Noise complaints Maynooth

Noise from parties a constant problem in Maynooth estates – Kildare court told.

Noise from parties a constant problem in Maynooth estates - Kildare court told

Noise from house parties is a constant problem in estates in Maynooth, gardai told Kilcock District Court on March 5 during a hearing into a noise related incident in the town.

Garda Sergeant Jim Kelly told Judge Desmond Zaidan that noise from houses is an environmental issue and should be reported to the county council.

Asked by the judge what the gardai did when they were called out, Sgt Kelly said they asked people politely to turn the music down.

“It is a constant problem in Maynooth,” he said.

Sgt Kelly was commenting just before Judge Zaidan applied the Probation Act in the case of a 46-year-old Maynooth man, who was prosecuted following threats over noise levels at a house next door.

Justin O’Keefe, 23 Greenfield Drive, Maynooth, had been charged with threatening to damage property at 22 Greenfield Drive on the Sunday evening of November 26 2017.

Last October, the court heard that Mr O’Keefe, who has young children, sought to have noise reduced at a rented house next door to him and lost his temper with the tenants, threatening to do damage.

However, he did not follow through on his threat.

Mr O’Keefe had called the gardai previously in relation to the noise. The court heard Mr O’Keefe could bring a case in the District Court under Section 108 of the Environment Protection Act but that gardai could not force people to turn down music at 1am in the morning.

Judge Zaidan said Mr O’Keefe was “pushed to extremes.”

On March 5, David Powderly, solicitor for Mr O’Keefe said neither the landlord nor the tenants wanted to get involved in a restorative justice process.

The judge applied the Probation

Source: Leinster Leader, to read the article, click here.

February 7, 2019August 3, 2019

New legislation could make it easier to complain about noisy neighbours

New legislation being proposed could change the complaints process for people who deal with noisy neighbours.

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Mid-West, John Curran, wants to protect the identity of a complainant.

At present, people have to lodge complaints with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) if their neighbours are renters.

However they have to provide their own name, which Mr Curran has said is making people fearful to raise issues.

He had called on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to amend existing legislation to allow for complaints of a neighbours anti-social behaviour to be lodged to the RTB by a third party.

Deputy Curran raised the issue in Dáil last week.

He said: “Existing legislation regarding residential disputes linked to anti-social behaviour states that only a person who is directly and adversely affected by such behaviour can lodge a complaint to the Residential Tenancies Board.

“What’s more, their identity as the complainant will be made known.

“That makes an already perverse situation even more difficult to manage or contain particularly for those that are genuinely afraid to submit a complaint in the first place.
“We cannot operate a system for complaints on the basis that all neighbours are considerate of other residents, obliging or pleasant”.

He said he has dealt with “a number of serious cases” on behalf of constituents who have been “too fearful” to make a complaint, knowing that they will be identifiable.

“Yet they are all too aware that in the absence of a complaint, nothing can be done to address the ongoing anti-social behaviour.”

He has asked that Minister Murphy consider amending this element of the bill, so that a person other than the individual affected can make it on his or her behalf.

“The fear of backlash or being targeted for reporting their neighbour’s disruptive behaviour is deterring tenants from trying to rectify the situation because often times it’s safer to try endure the hassle caused.

“By amending legislation to allow for a third party to make the complaint on their behalf, it acts as a kind of middle ground”, he added.

Source: Newstalk

February 1, 2019

Noise Nuisance Case.

Noisy neighbour Ewa Walsh

A Nuisance homeowner, who has been keeping her neighbours awake at night by slamming doors and windows and throwing objects against a wall, has been warned she faces a month in prison if the noise continues.

Ewa Walsh claimed it was a draught that caused the doors to slam, and said the noises were “normal living” sounds and not excessive.

Mouse

Walsh, of Dun Saithne Green, Balbriggan, denied she was making excessive noise at her terraced house after her neighbour Liam Coyle brought a civil case of noise pollution against her.

Mr Coyle told the court that he had been living beside the defendant since 2011 and never experienced any issues until last year.

“At all hours of the night – 2am, 3am, 4am and 5am – it’s like she is running through her house, slamming doors and windows and throwing heavy objects against a wall,” said Mr Coyle.

He claimed that during the summer months, when the defendant was leaving her home, she would excessively rev her SUV.

He said the noise stopped and she was “quiet as a mouse” after their last court date but then in early December the noise started again.

“I have kept a log and sound recordings of it,” he said, adding that he has a partner and a young child who are kept awake by the excessive noise.

“I would like to get a night’s sleep.”

However, Ms Walsh claimed that the building quality of the terraced houses was very bad.

“If you close a door, everyone hears it. I don’t do this on purpose,” she said.

“His wife bangs on my door as well. Sometimes the draught between doors causes them to slam.”

She also asked: “What does it mean by excessive noise?”

Judge Dermot Dempsey found her guilty of making excessive noise and warned her that if it continued at its current volume, she will end up in prison.

“Monitor the situation for one month and there better be no repetition of noise – otherwise I am dealing with it,” said Judge Dempsey.

He adjourned the case until February 21.

January 8, 2019

Family of man killed over ‘crow banger’ claim justice has not been done

The family of a Kerry farmer killed by his neighbour in a dispute over the use of a loud crow banger on his land say they don’t feel justice has been served.

Michael Ferris from Rattoo in Ballyduff was jailed for five years today for the manslaughter of Anthony O’Mahony in April 2017.

Anthony O’Mahony’s niece Ann O’Carroll believes the jury got it wrong when they cleared Michael Ferris of murder.

The 63-year-old admitted killing his neighbour by ramming his teleporter into his car while he was trying to pass on a narrow country road, but he denied murder claiming he “just snapped” after over 30 years of provocation.

The trial heard they lived and farmed together in the small rural community and Mr. O’Mahony had a crow banger on his land that would go off every four and a half minutes.

Ferris told Gardaí it was so loud it would “wake the dead” and he felt he had to do something about it.

He was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for five years today – afterwards, Ms. O’Carroll said she didn’t feel justice had been served and she described the trial process as “distressing”.

October 1, 2018October 1, 2018

Residents renew noise complaints as Palmer racetrack seeks permit change

Palmer Motorsports Park manager Fred Ferguson, at left, speaking at the Sept. 24, 2018 Palmer Planning Board meeting (JIM RUSSELL PHOTO)

PALMER — More complaints about noise from Whiskey Hill Raceway were voiced by residents during Monday’s Planning Board meeting, but the track’s manager said mitigation measures have been put in place and more action could be taken to lessen the noise.

Since the 2.3-mile Palmer Motorsports Park racetrack opened in 2015, Ware, Warren and Palmer residents have complained about noise.

Fred Ferguson, the racetrack’s manager, said at Monday’s meeting that a thousand feet of “acoustic fabric” has been installed to dampen sound.

“We are prepared to put up more,” he said.

A number of residents attending the meeting said noise problems continue, and they questioned a recent sound study, saying it was completed on a day when the track was not at its loudest.

An attorney representing the town of Palmer said that, unlike previous sound studies, this one measured decibel levels of loud noise in the moment, rather than as an average over the course of a day.

Ware Planning Board Chairman Richard Starodoj also attended the meeting, as did Ware Town Manager Stuart Beckley.

“There is a constant drone” in some sections of town but not in others, Staradoj said. He recommended additional “points in Ware” from which to measure the noise.

“Some (days) are louder than others,” Palmer Planning Board Chairman Michael Marciniec said, alluding to results he gleaned from the recent sound study.

Monday’s hearing was convened to act on Palmer Motorsports Park’s request to amend its operating permit to remove language defining sound limits. The amended language proposed by Ferguson would require “actual noise” to be in compliance with “state regulations.”

At the time the raceway was approved, the Planning Board required the track to scientifically estimate how much noise would migrate off site. If reference to that “project model” were removed, according to the Planning Board, criteria to determine whether the track is too loud would no longer be part of the operating permit.

No decision was made on Ferguson’s request during Monday’s meeting. The Planning Board continued the public hearing until Nov. 26.

By Jim Russell, Mass Live, to read it click here.

August 27, 2018March 7, 2019

Some noise complaint details compiled on noisecomplaint.ie

Well folks, as promised, here are some of the noise complaints we have compiled up to August 2018.

Source: Irelands only online noise complaint website (www.noisecomplaint.ie)

Type of Noise Wind Turbine Noise	How does it affect you? Keeps me awake
Industrial Noise	Reverberating sound but only 25db on average, annoying when trying to sleep. Lots of people can’t hear it but that doesn’t mean it’s not a nuisance to me. Not sure of source of noise so concerned when I don’t know cause.
Industrial Noise	Constant deliveries and associated noises , banging , metal grinding , trucks , roll cages , fan noise
Quarry Noise	Truck and machine noise
Aircraft Noise	Planes flying over our house quite low from 11pm at night.
Wind Turbine Noise	Swooshing, thumping , buzzing humming screeching
Construction Noise	County council road breaker working 10 metres from my home causing my whole house to vibrate. Work starts at 7pm till 4am. Noise is deafening and it’s impossible to sleep.
Quarry Noise	Quarrying machinery and crushing
Road Traffic Noise	ruins the peace and quiet of the countryside
Barking Dogs or Livestock	My neighbour’s dog is kept inside. He howls and barks while they are away at work during the day. My house is semi-detached and the sound insulation is very poor.
Barking Dogs or Livestock	Neighbours dog barks constantly
Road Traffic Noise	The vehicles on the M11 are very noisy as the M11 does not have noise reducing bitumen and there are no sound barriers on the Rathmichael side. The small segment of sound barriers on the Shankill side of the M11 deflect the noise over to the other side of the motorway, amplifying the noise pollution for the Rathmichael residents
Barking Dogs or Livestock	Barking dogs
Entertainment noise from a venue or bar	Really loud music
Industrial Noise	Banging and mechanical pressing noise until 4 or 5am in the morning.
Power Generation, Substations and Electrical	A very low resonating sound that seems to be heard at night. It can sometimes be difficult to hear but it sounds like a very low hum. May be related to power lines which go through the front of the housing estate.
Road Traffic Noise	Constant stream of traffic and accompanying road noise
Rail Noise	Platform Public Address System
Road Traffic Noise	Continued noise from M7 motorway. Screening vegetation planted along this part of the motorway has not grown and has died away. Road surface seems to be noisier here than in other places. Cold weather, wet weather and wind direction all have an effect on the level of noise.
Road Traffic Noise	I work mon to Fri and have to leave for work at 6:45 the volume of traffic on the road is constant throughout the night and my apartment block is not far from the road Even sealing the window with extra draught excluders makes no difference I have been wearing ear plugs since I moved in.
Clay Shooting or Rife Noise	Very loud bangs and constant shooting like popping sounds
Rail Noise	Trains waiting to enter Connolly station
Wind Turbine Noise	especially early morning trying to sleep
Road Traffic Noise	Traffic on newly opened motorway M17
Wind Turbine Noise	Like an airline jet
Road Traffic Noise	I like to sleep at night with my bedroom windows open. Since the owner of the house in front of me felled the tall conifers the noise from the road means I have to close the windows every night. Wet roads sound much worse.
Road Traffic Noise	Vehicle noise speeding N80
Clay Shooting or Rife Noise	Consistent loud shotgun and rifle shooting
Barking Dogs or Livestock	Dog next door
Construction Noise	Building and traffic arriving at building site.
Clay Shooting or Rife Noise	Very loud bangs and constant shooting like popping sounds
Industrial Noise	We have noise from a number of sources. One a waste water treatment plant to the front of the house ,the other a cash and carry centre operating through the night with large refrigerated trucks being loaded .The treatment plant is a 24/7 source of noise pollution with an unending drone sometimes escalating to a very loud motorised noise.
Road Traffic Noise	Road noise from M4 motorway
Sports Noise (Motorsport, Model Aircraft, Jet Ski)	Footballs being pounded against the barriers and cages surrounding 4 all-weather soccer pitches. This noise is worse before or after a match as the footballers constantly pound the balls full force against the barriers. The sound can be heard from inside my home.
Aircraft Noise	We are woken approx. 5am every morning with airplanes flying over, sometimes earlier and including weekends
Industrial Noise	The noise is coming from a concrete batching plant about 75 meters away. The plant itself causes bad vibrations which can be felt all through the house, the main problem is when the trucks are mixing the concrete which is almost constant the noise levels at our front door can reach in excess of 65-70 DB. This noise can start from 5:30am Monday to Saturday. It has woken the whole family on a number of occasions (2 Adults & 2 children Age 9 +15)
Road Traffic Noise	constant traffic noise from M4, worse depending on wind direction
Industrial Noise	increased traffic and shipping in the Port and Docks
Road Traffic Noise	increased traffic and shipping in the Port and Docks
Noise from a neighbouring property	Every Friday at 6:30 am the building alarm in XXXXXX Building starts for about 10 min straight for the past 2 months!
Aircraft Noise	Sleepless nights due to aircraft flying over my house from 2300 or earlier the noise is terrible been onto DAA only the same standard e mail each time
Sports Noise (Motorsport, Model Aircraft, Jet Ski)	Kids & teenagers playing hurling & sports at side of my home.
Road Traffic Noise	Trucks every two minutes going to the incinerator
Construction Noise	Drilling, digging, heavy machinery and the trucks
Industrial Noise	Vibrating noise from Delivery Lorrys and reverberating noise from factory
Industrial Noise	Reverberating Noise(Hum)inside my house
Industrial Noise	Reverberating noise
Industrial Noise	Air compressor noisy
Road Traffic Noise	road traffic passing house behind house
Noise from a neighbouring property	loud slamming of doors, scraping of chairs and tables across tiled floor, music and loud washing machine/dryer
Noise from a neighbouring property	House alarm
Event/Festival Noise	There is a gaming event in the XXXXX XXXXX grounds in Tallaght. People are speaking on a microphone and it’s is very loud. I can hear exactly what they are saying.
Noise from a neighbouring property	High pitched whistling noise 24/7 which sounds like a malfunctioning AC Inverter’s external unit. It’s been going on since at least August 2017 and getting louder by each passing month. It’s absolutely disturbing during quiet night hours since XXXXXX House where we live only has single sheet windows which do little to nothing to muffle the sound.
Noise from a neighbouring property	Loud voices, parties, music
Entertainment noise from a venue or bar	singing outdoor with high volume speakers
Noise from a neighbouring property	Neighbour turning on his boat’s engine at 20:30 when kids are sleeping. It is extremely noisy and baby keeps waking crying with the noise.
Noise from a neighbouring property	Farmers crow scarer. Shotgun type noise approximately once every five minutes 24 hours a day, every day.
Noise from a neighbouring property	People out drinking playing music on the canal all night
Noise from a neighbouring property	Laud music and frequent parties
Entertainment noise from a venue or bar	Playing loud music after 11pm, causing migraines
Noise from a neighbouring property	It is 11:30 pm and my children aged 2 and 5 cannot go to sleep
Noise from a neighbouring property	Loud music and shouting
Entertainment noise from a venue or bar	Loud music from outdoor speakers in the smoking area at the back of the pub in a newly renovated XXXXX bar. During the day time at weekends. At night time loud noises from large groups in the back outdoor smoking area.
Industrial Noise	Industrial noise from XXXXXX house . Ongoing from 21.00 through to after 23.00
Entertainment noise from a venue or bar	Very loud drinkers on second floor patio, and occasional DJ event that is way too loud.
Entertainment noise from a venue or bar	Blasts of music from XXXX Gym… currently just been woken up by it at 2.30am. I have lodged 3/4 complaints with them and no change.
Noise from a neighbouring property	Loud music and shouting and screaming from a party out a back garden till 3am
Road Traffic Noise	M50 Traffic increasing, can be clearly heard from all bedrooms in our house, more so since recent large trees were removed. Motorbikes speeding regularly wake us and our baby.
Noise from a neighbouring property	Loud antisocial behaviour at midnight, young individuals probably intoxicated
Barking Dogs or Livestock
Entertainment noise from a venue or bar	Extremely loud music, affecting ability to sleep, Sat and Sun, and often during the week
Barking Dogs or Livestock	Large dog barking
Noise from a neighbouring property	Music loud all the time, specially night-time. Jumping and dropping objects on the floor. Speak very loud.
Quarry Noise	Noise and traffic from quarry from 4am in the morning, and regular blasting
Road Traffic Noise	All road traffic
Aircraft Noise	Aircraft taking off and landing
Road Traffic Noise	Traffics from ring road and feeder roads
Road Traffic Noise	continuous noise from N2 road
Barking Dogs or Livestock	Seagulls calling 24hours a day
Entertainment noise from a venue or bar	Disturbed sleep. Unable to use garden at times
Noise from a neighbouring property	Footsteps overhead
Road Traffic Noise	road traffic noise
Noise from a neighbouring property	DIY noise drills hammers etc. .some nights up until 11 o clock, affects our sleep and can’t relax watching TV
Road Traffic Noise	Our estate has recently been built alongside a bypass. The extent of the noise of road traffic was a realisation after we purchased the house. There is constant traffic noise particularly trucks breaking and accelerating coming into/driving out of round about which results in interrupted sleep particularly for my baby daughter whose bedroom is at the back of the house. This noise starts as early as 4.30am. Large volumes of traffic use this bypass to avoid paying a toll on the nearby motorway.
Noise from a neighbouring property	Electric shower
Construction Noise	rock breaker in back yard of house 8 hours per day
Road Traffic Noise	Animal noises from mart and HGV mart traffic through night and unsociable hours 7 days a week
Wind Turbine Noise	Loud whirring and turbine noise, upsets my dogs and myself and the more they build the louder it gets
Road Traffic Noise	The traffic from the main road which we are a reasonable distance away from is getting louder and louder, especially since tries have been cut down, sound travels hugely in this area despite the rural setting
Industrial Noise	Noise from the very large forestry opposite us, particularly if they are making new paths or harvesting, it goes on for weeks, I can’t even open a window when they are there and there is never any warning even as a courtesy
Barking Dogs or Livestock	Every neighbour that has dogs in our area seems to keep them outside they bark constantly and then my dogs get disturbed, the loudest are the greyhounds, they bark and howl 24/7 and also fight at least that’s what it sounds like

August 8, 2018

Construction Noise Complaints UK

NO one wants to be rudely awakened in the early morning by some builder banging and hammering away.

There are times when noisy construction work can take place but these do vary.

What time can builders start work in the UK?

The power to allow noisy work to take place rests with the local authority, under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

As such times when noisy work is not permitted does vary but there are some standard hours with are generally seen as acceptable:

Monday – Friday: 8am – 6pm
Saturday: 8am – 1pm
Sunday or Bank Holiday: No noisy work

The hours though are just general guidelines and it is best to check with your local council for exact times as they can vary.

Those hours relate to professional builders rather than DIY enthusiasts, although with DIY the recommended hours vary due to the local authority./

How can you complain about noise?

In the first place just go and speak to the builders, most will probably see no problem and take your wishes into account.

Outside of the hours described above you have the right to complain to the local council

Source: The Sun