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The premises from which Part II poisons are sold are visited
regularly throughout the year and licences are renewed annually.
NOISE ABATEMENT
The Report of the Wilson Committee (the Committee on the
Problem of Noise) which deals with noise-its effects, the legal
aspects and various causes of noise-transport, industrial,
entertainment, advertising, agricultural-has defined noise as
"sound which is undesired by the recipient" and categorically
states that "there is no doubt that noise affects health".
The Report recommends that "Local Authorities and the Courts
should be encouraged to deal with noise nuisance cases as quickly
as possible". In order to alleviate possible distress from noise,
complaints of this nature are dealt with by this Department as soon
as practicable, even though the investigation often involves visits
during weekends, late evenings and early mornings. An example was
a complaint received from a resident of a terraced house that a
dance band was using the adjoining premises as a rehearsal hall.
The Public Health Inspector visited the house during the following
evening and the members of the band were advised to seek alternative
accommodation where their playing was not likely to cause a nuisance.
Machinery, particularly when used at night or during the early
hours of the morning, often gives rise to complaints and a number of
complaints involving machines and engines were investigated. Neighbours
of a baker's shop alleged that stocks were delivered to the shop at
about 5.00 a.m. and the resultant banging of doors and thoughtless
handling of the goods meant the loss of sleep. The Public Health
Inspector kept observation and was able to confirm a noise nuisance.
The Proprietor was instructed to see that the van making the
deliveries was unloaded quietly or, alternatively, arrange for the
van to call at a more reasonable hour. No further complaints were
received from these residents.
A local transport garage was the subject of a similar complaint.
Drivers arriving at the garage between 5.00 a.m.-6.00 a.m. raced
the engines of their vehicles on cold mornings as a means of warming
them and then left the motors running for a considerable period of
time before driving away. The attention of the Management was
drawn to the annoyance and appropriate notices were subsequently
displayed in the garage by the Management warning their staff to
refrain from creating undue noise, especially in the early hours
of the morning.
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