This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Noise Action Week
23/05/2005
Noise Action Week was officially launched today at the
National Society for Clean Air (NSCA) Scotland conference,
Noise - The Big Issues, in Glasgow's Royal Concert
Hall.
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Lewis
Macdonald called for people to respect their neighbours and
be considerate in their actions.
The Minister said:
"The new Antisocial Noise provisions give local councils
additional powers to tackle the problem of noisy neighbours
quickly and effectively. They are an integral part of the
wider drive to rebuild respect in our communities.
"Together with NSCA and local authorities, I want to use
this conference to make clear that we will get tough with
antisocial and environmental noise. Prevention, early
intervention, enforcement and rehabilitation within a
community framework are all part of the picture.
"Scottish Ministers have provided £2.88 million this
year for local authorities wishing to introduce noise
control services. The funding covers staffing, training and
equipment costs.
"Six local authorities, including Glasgow City Council,
have now launched their Antisocial Noise Teams and a
further four are due to commence by July. Twelve other
local authorities hope to introduce the service this
year.
"Over £5 million in funding has been committed in the
period up to 2008 to ensure local authorities are given
every opportunity to develop their antisocial behaviour
domestic noise services and help put an end to the scourge
of noisy neighbours."
Today's conference includes an update on:
- the implementation of the
Antisocial Behaviour Noise provisions
- the consultation on the
implementation of the EC Environmental Noise Directive,
which ends on June 1, and requires noise maps of major
agglomerations by July 2007 and resulting action plans
by 2008
- research report by Napier
University on the impact of laminated and hard flooring
on sound insulation, which will lead to Good Practice
Guidance for suppliers and consumers later in 2005
- proposed consultation on the
Noise Management Guidance, which will include good
practice advice on all noise issues for local
authorities
CASE STUDY
Edinburgh City Council launched their Noise service on
April 1 this year. They have so far dealt with over 1,000
complaints, and issued over 240 verbal warnings, 68 Warning
Notices and one Fixed Penalty Notice. Lothian & Borders
Police have reported a marked decrease in corresponding
calls, freeing up their resources to tackle more serious
crime.
Regulations under the Antisocial Behaviour etc
(Scotland) Act 2004 - the Antisocial Behaviour (Noise
Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 - came into force on
February 28, 2005.
The Executive is providing funding of £2.88 million in
2005 and has secured further funding of at least £2.3
million for 2006 and £3.0 million in 2007 under the
Spending Review 2004 process.
The noise provisions give complementary powers to local
authorities to tackle domestic noise complaints. The
provision goes beyond UK and European legislation by
providing objective noise levels at all times of day.
If the noise levels are breached on measurement after a
Warning Notice has been issued this can lead to a Fixed
Penalty Notice of £100 issued to the responsible person. If
the Notice is not paid within 28 days this can lead to
prosecution and a maximum fine of £1,000 on conviction.
Those local authorities who choose to adopt the noise
provisions will be provided with funding through a grant
payment scheme. Local authorities can decide when and if
they wish to adopt the noise provisions and what periods of
the day, night or week they wish to choose. Edinburgh City
Council, for example, have decided to provide a noise
service for 20 hours a day, Monday to Friday and 22 hours
per day, from 6.00am to 4.00am at the weekend.
These provisions build on powers already introduced
under the Antisocial Behaviour Act to tackle grafitti,
fly-tipping and intimidation from gangs of youths.
Edinburgh Council is the first of 22 local authorities,
who have adopted the provisions, to commence the new
antisocial behaviour noise services.
Five other local authorities have commenced to date.
East Lothian, who are utlising Edinburgh's service on April
1, Dumfries & Galloway also commenced on April 1, East
Renfrewshire on April 2, North Lanarkshire on May 2, and
Glasgow on May 4.
Three other authorities are due to commence in June -
Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, Inverclyde and Angus will
follow on July 1.
The remaining 12 local authorities who have applied for
funding in 2005 are:
Aberdeen City, Argyll & Bute, Clackmannanshire, East
Ayrshire, Falkirk, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, Orkney
Isles, Perth & Kinross, South Ayrshire, West
Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian.