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31
Noise Abatement Act, 1960
Since the passing of this Act, the number of complaints concerning
noise has grown considerably. Previously the law governing
noise nuisance in London was contained in the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1937, which provided that any
" excessive, unreasonable or unnecessary noise which was injurious
to health " could be dealt with summarily as a nuisance. The
proof necessary to satisfy these requirements before Court procedure
could be instituted was often difficult to obtain. The 1960
Act substitutes for these words " noise which is a nuisance and
the procedure is thereby simplified. It is not necessary to prove
injury to health, or that the noise was excessive, unreasonable or
unnecessary. With regard to industrial noise, however, it is still
a good defence to prove that the best practicable means have been
used to prevent or counteract its effect. As well as the Council
having authority to take action, any three persons who are
aggrieved by a noise nuisance can initiate action by complaining
to a Magistrate.
It has been the practice in the Health Department to take appropriate
action when complaints of noise have arisen in connection
with a trade or business. Industrial noise clearly has a health
angle, in that it is often continuous and of considerable intensity.
The service of notices has not been necessary, because a letter calling
attention to the complaint has had the desired results.
Complaints, however, received from persons who complain that
rowdy parties take place at certain times in adjoining premises,
or that the person in the flat above causes undue noise, are not
considered the type of complaint that should be dealt with by the
public health inspectors. There would appear to be no specific
health hazard but rather a personal problem arising in the majority
of cases from behaviour difficulties between neighbours. This is
the type of complaint that could well be dealt with by the persons
aggrieved.
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963
The administration of this Act was continued during the year
despite staffing difficulties caused by retirements and resignations
of public health inspectors. Initial inspections numbered 620 and
the total inspections including re-inspections was 1,006. Consideration
is being given to the question of the employment of technical
assistants to aid the public health inspectors in this work.
Non-compliance with the Act has been mainly confined to failure
to display an Abstract of the Act and a lack of thermometers and
first-aid boxes. Heating to the required standard was sometimes
found difficult to achieve in shop premises because of the continual
loss of heat due to repeated door openings and a number of
premises lacked a hot water supply for washing. No difficulty has
yet been experienced in obtaining compliance with the Act when
contraventions have been brought to the notice of the responsible