View report page

Unfortunately there is no scientific method of measuring noise, which is the subjective response
to sound. Sound can be measured and a level of sound which is regarded as a noise nuisance by one
person is often not complained of by other persons who are similarly exposed to it. Often complaints
are from individuals who have some other basic problem to cope with, as for example, a
person who buys a house near a factory without having fully investigated all the factors involved
and then does not like the location and complains of noise from the factory, which has operated
unchanged and without previous complaint for many years. Another source of complaint is the
householder near a factory where alterations have taken place, e.g. an extension to the factory
which can affect the view from a house or result in a building near to the house where none
existed previously.
Sometimes changes in equipment are made in factories and justifiable complaints follow. All
complaints are investigated and if established, the firms concerned are usually very co-operative in
carrying out voluntarily modifications to their premises or plant to reduce the noise. Recourse to
court action has not been necessary in any instance.
The difficult cases are those where after full investigation by the department, it has not been
possible to establish that a noise nuisance exists. This never satisfies the complainant and we then
have to employ consultants to undertake accurate sound measurements, usually during the night,
using expensive and complex equipment.
Even when independent measurements show there is no nuisance by currently aceepted sound
level standards, some complainants are still not satisfied. It then remains for the complainant to
take private legal action if he still feels strongly about the matter. None has so far done so.
Noise complaints, being subjective reactions, take up a disproportionate amount of time of the
Public Health Inspectors who have to make repeated personal observations at many different times
of day and night and also frequently involve the medical staff as usually it is claimed that the noise
nuisance is adversely affecting the health of the complainant and his family.