9/10 Londoners bothered by capital’s noise pollution, says new research

The North Circular Road at Neasden
Michael Stephens/PA Archive
Josh Salisbury22 December 2021

More than nine in 10 Londoners say they are bothered by the noise in the capital, research reveals — which calls on the emergency services to test out quieter sirens.

The report, published by the Policy Exchange think tank, found that sirens are the biggest cause of noise disturbance to Londoners, with 54 per cent telling a poll they found it annoying.

Among the report’s recommendations is a trial of quieter sirens by the emergency services to see if they are as effective with less disruption.

The police should invest in drone technology to allow them to use fewer helicopters, found the research, after 42 per cent of people said the noise was disruptive.

The report also recommends that London Mayor Sadiq Khan should work with the Met to set targets for the reduction in helicopter usage over the next five years.

Noise pollution is considered by experts as one of the most damaging environmental threats to public health in western Europe, second only to air pollution.

The pandemic saw a dramatic drop in noise levels during lockdowns — and now only 24 per cent of Londoners want noise to go back to pre-pandemic levels.

In a foreword to the report, former BBC presenter John Humphrys said noise should not be the price of living in a big city.

“If the nearby factory is belching out thick smoke causing our children to cough, we will demand action,” he said.

“Yet if our local police force habitually uses helicopters to fly low over our homes or our sleep is disrupted by sirens we might just grumble a little.”

Of the top 10 annoying noise disturbances, eight related to traffic, the study found.

Private motorbikes and scooters were an irritant to 52 per cent of people, with loud music from vehicles close behind at 51 per cent.

Engine revving and vehicle alarms both annoyed 48 per cent of Londoners.

The report, Turning Down the Volume: Tackling Noise Pollution in the Capital, called for higher fines for breaching Public Spaces Protection Orders in London.

The money should go towards acoustic cameras to identify disruptive drivers, it said. The Government’s new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities should also consider noise when assessing preventive measures for improving public health, it added.

Planting more trees on streets could also deaden disruptive noise, with the sounds of leaves rustling and birdsong among Londoners’ favourite noises.

Michael Mosbacher, head of the Liveable London project at Policy Exchange, said: “One of the few upsides for Londoners of the lockdowns of the last 19 months is that the city is less plagued by excessive and intrusive noise.

“Action must now be taken to prevent a return to pre-Covid levels of noise pollution.”

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