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3 Action Plan Requirements
3.1 Noise Action Planning
The END requires the Competent Authority, in this instance the Scottish Government, to be responsible for the development of Action Plans. The END (Annex 5) lists the minimum requirements for each Action Plan. The Transportation Noise Action Plan must address priorities in those areas of interest and should be drawn up in consultation with the public. It must include, at least, the elements shown in Table 3 below.
Table 3 Environmental Noise Directive minimum Action Plan contents and location in this document
No | Description | Location in this document |
|---|
1 | A description of the area outwith the agglomerations, the major roads and major railways taken into account. | Section 2.5 Appendix 1 |
|---|
2 | The authority responsible. | Section 3.1 |
|---|
3 | The legal context. | Section 2.2 |
|---|
4 | Any limit values in place in accordance with Article 5. | None |
|---|
5 | A summary of the results of the noise mapping. | Section 2.4 |
|---|
6 | An evaluation of the estimated number of people exposed to noise. | Section 2.4 |
|---|
7 | Identification of problems and situations that need to be improved. | Section 4 |
|---|
8 | A record of the public consultations organised in accordance with Article 8(7). | Ongoing |
|---|
9 | Any noise-reduction measures already in force and any projects in preparation. | Section 5 |
|---|
10 | Actions which the competent authorities intend to take in the next five years, including any measures to preserve quiet areas. | Section 4.6 Section 5 Appendix 4 |
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11 | Long-term strategy. | Appendix 4 |
|---|
12 | Financial information (if available): budgets, cost-effectiveness assessment, cost-benefit assessment. | Section 4.6 |
|---|
13 | Estimates in terms of the reduction of the number of people affected (annoyed, sleep, disturbed, or other). | Section 4.4 |
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14 | Provisions envisaged for evaluating the implementation and the results of the action plan. | Section 4.6 Section 5 Appendix 4 |
|---|
It must be borne in mind the published noise contours are strategic, see Section 2.3 above for further explanation, and therefore the resulting Action Plans must also be strategic in nature.
To take forward the development of the six Noise Action Plans the Scottish Government established a Steering Group to support Working Groups preparing each Action Plan. This process, its relationship to the development of the Transportation Noise Action Plan, and the working with key partners is described in Sections 3.2 to 3.4.
3.2 Competent Authorities and Key Partners
The Scottish Government is the Competent Authority for END and is responsible for drawing up this Transportation Noise Action Plan. In the development and preparation of this Action Plan, the Scottish Government has worked with key partners and stakeholders involved in END, and these are as follows.
- BAA Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen
- EWS
- First ScotRail
- Glasgow Prestwick Airport
- Hamilton and McGregor
- Relevant Local Authorities outwith the agglomerations
- Network Rail
- Regional Transport Partnerships
- Transport Scotland
The airport operators in Scotland have worked very closely with the Scottish Government's consultants to produce the required noise maps, and have been fully involved in the Transportation Action Plan process.
3.3 Noise Action Planning Steering Group
The Scottish Environmental Noise Steering Group ( SENSG) is a group with representation from all parties involved in environmental noise. The group comprises representatives from the Scottish Government, Local Authorities, SEPA, BAA, Transport Scotland, and Network Rail. SENSG has provided a forum for all key partners to review the development and progress of the six Noise Action Plans and to determine the prioritisation of control measures.
3.4 Noise Action Planning Working Groups
SENSG established and coordinated three working groups (Edinburgh agglomeration, Glasgow agglomeration, and Transportation) to prepare appropriate Action Plans. SENSG also works closely with the Airport Working Group who developed the Airport Action Plan. All four groups feedback on a regular basis to SENSG. This process will continue through the Action Planning consultation and implementation.
Diagram 1 below illustrates the reporting structure for the Action Planning Process and also clarifies the responsibilities for delivering the Action Plans.
Diagram 1 - Steering Groups and Working Groups
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