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199
Noise Abatement Act, 1960
Local authorities have been empowered to deal with noise or
vibration as statutory nuisances under this Act and during the year
36 complaints were received of which the majority were of a
relatively minor nature. Each complaint was investigated and, in
most instances, satisfactory improvements were effected.
The noise at two large industrial premises were reduced on the
completion of works which were in hand at the end of last year.
In all a total of 410 visits were carried out during the course of
the year by the Public Health Inspectors.
Joint Circular 22/67 and 18/67—Noise Nuisance—This
Circular, issued on 18th April, 1967, concerns the recommendations contained in the Report of the Committee on the Problem of
Noise relating to industrial processes giving rise to specially
intractable noise problems.
The Circular indicates that as far as industrial noise is concerned
the Ministry of Labour have agreed that their Factory Inspectors
will make their experiences of the problem available to local
authorities and these authorities are requested to consult the Factory
Inspector before taking action against noise from industrial premises
of any kind. The Factory Inspector may be able to advise on the
possibility of suppressing noise at the source or to suggest where
specialist advice can be obtained. Factory Inspectors for their part
have been asked to consult local authorities before making recommendations for noise reductions in factories in which the local
authority is likely to be interested. In addition, the Greater London
Council's Scientific Branch, which is equipped with precision
measuring equipment, will be prepared to assist London Boroughs.
The Minister calls on local authorities to make a determined
attack on the problem of industrial noise. In about 2 years' time
he proposes to ask authorities to report on progress and on the
difficulties encountered so that he can consider whether changes
are necessary either in the law or the arrangements for its
enforcement.
The Circular also refers to nuisances arising from mobile icecream vendors. The Minister urges local authorities to make full
use of the powers in the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, to ensure that
this source of nuisance is kept within reasonable bounds. It is
suggested that information about the size of this problem might
be built up by local authorities keeping separate records of complaints about ice-cream chimes and observing regularly whether
the vendors are adhering to the Code of Practice drawn up voluntarily by the ice-cream industry.