Motorway is top of the noise league

THE M5O has been singled out as the worst noise polluter in Ireland, exposing nearby residents to an incessant din of traffic as loud as a twin-engine jet at takeoff.

The first "noise map" of Ireland estimates that traffic, especially on the M5O, causes the biggest racket. More than 23,000 Dublin residents live in the highest band of noise as a result of traffic. Dublin airport and the rail lines around the capital barely register a squeak.

The map, was drawn by Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency as part of the European Noise Directive that requires all countries to chart "unwanted or harmful outdoor sound" created by human activity.

Dublin was the only city to be mapped because it is large enough to meet the threshold, which requires measurement of urban areas with a population exceeding 250,000.

A sound level greater than 75 decibels (db) was recorded from the M5O. Researchers say that 70db is the equivalent of a passenger car travelling at 60 km/h and that 81db is akin to a twin-engine jet at take-off.

The map is a computer simulation based on data taken over one year regarding traffic volumes, frequency of public transport, population densities, the height of buildings, quality of road surface and other information supplied by councils and transport companies. No noise sensors were used to compile the map, but councils are now installing them to verify the data.

Key junctions such as the Red Cow roundabout and relatively small roads in Malahide, Donnybrook and along the Liffey quays are in the loudest noise category.

Tom Stafford, a senior scientific officer at the agency, said: "Because the map is based on annual data, and because there would probably be little activity at the airport or on rail at night this means almost all the noise is from major roads."

The population's exposure to noise is measured in Ldens, a logarithm based on decibels which gives a level based on combined day, evening and night readings. Night-time noise attracts a higher "annoyance score" than sounds occurring at day or evening time.

Most of Dublin's population of 1.2m people live in areas that have a sound level below the "noisy" 70 Ldens score. More than 141,000 people, however, live in areas that are exposed to more than 70 Ldens and 23,600 of them are in areas that experience the highest noise category recorded - greater than 75 Ldens.

Anthony Staines, an epidemiologist at Dublin City University said excessive noise was bad for human health. "It leads to hypertension, high blood pressure and affects childrens' learning ability," he said. "Sleep disturbance can also lead to daytime sleepiness resulting in accidents. Testing for noise pollution should form a much larger part of environmental impact statements, particularly when it comes to roads and airports."

Derek Keating, an independent councillor with South Dublin county council, said residents' complaints about the M50's noise pollution had been ignored. "Locals objected to the widening of the road but it went through anyway. Since heavy goods vehicles were removed from the city centre, it has gotten even worse," he said.

Margaret Errity, a psychiatric nurse who lives beside the M5O in the Woodfarm estate in Palmerstown, said she can no longer sleep with her windows open. "My house is the width of two lanes of traffic in distance from the motorway and the noise is constant. At night when it's less busy, the cars just speed up," she said.

After submitting the noise map to the European Commission, the local authorities must now formulate action plans, in consultation with the agency, to reduce the number of people affected by high noise levels.

The low noise levels from air and rail travel is likely to prompt councils to promote these modes of public transport over the use of cars.

Brian McManus, the head of Dublin city council's traffic, noise and air quality division, said the detail on the map would also enable the councils to plan better traffic management.

Ciaran Cuffe, a Green TD, hopes the government will reintroduce a noise pollution bill this year. "I want to see a one stop shop where people can go to complain about noise," he said.

Mark Tighe and Colin Coyle
Sunday Times

Noise level survey for Cork Ring Road

A NOISE survey is to be carried out along Cork’s main ring road to see if traffic noise levels are within EU limits.
The South Ring Road has passed a key traffic volume marker and will be included in a National Roads Authority noise mapping exercise being carried out on some of the country’s busiest main roads.
It is due for completion in June and will recommend methods of tackling areas where noise levels are above the permitted levels introduced by the EU in April.
The completed survey will be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency by July 2008 before being forwarded to the EU Commission.
Fianna Fáil TD John Dennehy welcomed the survey.
“The EU regulations are a welcome breakthrough in the battle between local residents and public representatives on one hand and road design personnel and engineers on the other,” he said.
“There is a need for balance and residents along this road have suffered because that balance has not been achieved.”
Eoin English
© Irish Examiner

Neighbourhood Noise Bill

I had an email over the weekend concernign the Green's Nieghbourhood Noise Bill. Here's an article from the Indo' on this:

DECIBEL hell - the cacophony of noise from alarms, loud music and other aural irritants - was firmly in the political firing line yesterday.

The Green Party promised to be not only good for the environment, but also for your ears. It pledged to take action to put peace and quiet back into everyday life.

The party placed noise pollution at the top of its agenda along with other forms of pollution, announcing a private members' Bill for the Autumn that would crack down on the clamour no-one wants to hear.

Penalties

The Bill, while certain to be defeated by the combined might of the Government parties, would impose new penalties and controls and beef up the ranks of noise inspectors. It will also form a key plank of the Greens' election manifesto.

Noise control officers would be hired by every local authority in the country if the Greens get into Government next year. They would be charged with taking immediate action once a complaint has been received from the public.

"They will have the powers to take action 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said party leader Trevor Sargent, who claimed the Noise Police would be largely financed by the revenue they generate from fines.

Such a force would provide "a clear and effective remedy for noise from building sites, car alarms, helicopters, noisy neighbours, barking dogs and outdoor events," Mr Sargent said.

The Greens' Neighbourhood Noise Bill seeks to simplify and enhance the tackling of noise pollution.

"Existing legislation deals with only certain types of environmental noise and involves a range of bodies as well as the courts," Mr Sargent said.

Environment spokesperson Ciaran Cuffe added: "All of us have experienced problems with neighbourhood noise at some point in our lives, yet noise hasn't received the same attention as other forms of pollution."

Under existing rules, different agencies are responsible for dealing with noise from different sources, he pointed out. "Barking dogs are dealt with by local authority dog control officers, loud music by environmental health officers and the Irish Aviation Authority is responsible for noise from low-flying helicopters."

The Green Party also intends to tighten up regulations to reduce noise pollution at a more commercial level.

Local authorities and bodies have to draw up noise maps and agree action plans, but do not provide meaningful timetables or incentives to achieve it, Mr Sargent said.

If you are intersted, the Bill is available for download at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/bills28/bills/2006/5606/b5606d.pdf