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The following is an extract from the report submitted:-
"Complaints Received
During 1967/68, 251 complaints were received and investigated by the
public health inspectorate about noise from a variety of sources including
factories, launderettes, scrap metal yards, machinery in commercial premises,
pneumatic road drills, car and motor cycle engines, slamming of car doors
late at night and clubs and public houses where musical entertainment is
provided.
Assessment of Statutory Nuisance
In dealing with complaints of industrial noise the recommendations of
British Standard No. 4142; 1967 (method of rating industrial noise affecting
mixed residential and industrial areas) have been used as a guide to the
assessment of statutory nuisances. The criteria recommended in the Wilson
Report (Cmnd.2056/63) for noise inside houses is also a very useful guide
as to whether formal action is justified.
The present recommendations, however, are not accepted as statutory
standards and the position would be considerably improved if this omission
was rectified.
Complainants often continue to complain after a noise nuisance has
been abated to the satisfaction of the local authority because the complainant
feels that the noise complained of should be entirely eliminated even though it
has been reduced and complies with B.S.4142.
It is generally found that industrial managements are anxious to abate
alleged noise nuisances in order to maintain good public relations, but
financial considerations weigh heavily and owing to the absence of statutory
standards they often feel that they are acting under duress.
The "best practical means" defence in Section 1(3) of the Noise
Abatement Act, I960 is often a deterrent to local authorities to take action
even where noise complaints are justified.
General Observations
Many noise complaints originate from plant which requires no prior
planning consent. Many cases are found to be caused by plant and machinery
which has been installed in ignorance of its noise output and of the sound
proofing measures needed to ensure that its operation will not be detrimental
to the environment of a residential area.
The Clean Air Acts, 1956/68 provide for prior approval and control of
new furnaces and chimney heights. This type of control could well be applied
to noise emission from new plant and machinery, manufacturers should be
required to specify the noise rating of new machinery to enable adequate
consideration to be given to the design of premises in which the plant is to
be housed, prior to its installation, to ensure that the noise climate in the
surrounding area is kept within acceptable limits.
A specific case in this category dealt with by the Department concerned
a serious noise nuisance from a breeze block making plant where obsolete
machinery had been replaced by an automated production-line process. The
installation of this machinery did not require planning consent and the first
intimation that a serious nuisance existed was when complaints were received
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