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28.
From the results of this work, I strongly recommend, the Committee to
seriously consider making recommendations to the Council that in all future
contracts a clause should be inserted restricting road breaking appliances to
a reasonable decibel level, thus setting an example to others in this vital
field of Public Health, "the prevention and suppression of unnecessary noise".
The advent of a new type of road breaker, which incidentally is
hydraulically driven by a ten horse power unit is proving of considerable
interest. Unlike the compressor this new power unit is so quiet that normal
conversation can be carried on immediately adjoining the unit and this has
inspired me to arrange for a demonstration to take place some time in the
spring between pneumatic road breakers, electric road breakers and this new
type of road breaker. Letters have already been sent by the Department to
all manufacturers of road breaking equipment inviting them to a round table
conference to discuss the whole subject of silencing road breaking equipment,
and to take part in a demonstration to be held under the auspices of this
Department and with the cooperation of scientific bodies.
It is confidently hoped that very valuable information may be obtained
from this demonstration and no doubt the manufacturers, bearing in mind the
possible outcome of Sir Alan Wilson's Governmental Report sometime in 1963,
are fully conscious of the possibility of legal standards becoming law as
a result of this report.
Ice Cream Chimes.
No complaint has been received concerning ice cream chimes being
broadcast in contravention of the Noise Abatement Act. No doubt the deterrent
of several warning letters and successful prosecutions has had its effect.
At the same time the Public Health Inspectors are alert to this vital subject.
Other Noise Nuisances.
Several complaints of minor noise nuisances have been received during the
year but in eachcase informal action has proved to be successful.