Noise Action Week activities
Almost 300 complaints about noise from barking dogs were responded to by Shropshire Council last year* – a quarter of the total number of noise complaints.
The council’s neighbourhood pollution team is taking the opportunity during Noise Action Week to raise awareness of the impact this can have and offer advice on solutions to wider noise problems.
The team will host displays across the county throughout the week, which takes place from Monday 23 May to Friday 27 May 2011. Members of the team will be available from about 11am to 3pm at the displays to provide information and answer questions.
They will be at:
- Monday 23 May – Morrisons in Market Drayton
- Tuesday 24 May – Tesco in Battlefield, Shrewsbury
- Wednesday 25 May – Sainsbury’s in Oswestry
- Thursday 26 May – Tesco in Ludlow
- Friday 27 May – Town Hall Market in Bridgnorth.
An unmanned stall will also be set up at the market hall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday 24 May and Wednesday 25 May.
Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member, said:
“Noise can cause disruption and distress to everyone – at home, at leisure, at work and at study.
“The neighbourhood pollution team will be on hand during the week to raise awareness about the difficulties excessive noise can cause for all of us, and the solutions available to minimise it.
“In particular they will be able to provide guidance on simple measures that can be taken to prevent problems that noise from barking dogs can cause. The team received 291 complaints about this last year and is keen to help people with information and advice.
“During the week we would urge everybody to consider the noise they make and the effect it has on others, the noises that are a problem for them, and find out more about practical solutions to everyday noise issues.”
Simple measures to prevent problems that noise from barking dogs can cause include ensuring dogs have plenty of exercise before being left alone, leaving them with their favourite toys, and leaving a radio on at a low volume to help settle the dog.
National research** shows that two fifths of the population say noise affects their quality of life, and in 2008 around half a million people (one per cent) said they had moved home because of noisy neighbours.
As part of Noise Action Week activities will be held across the country by organisations including: councils; housing associations; mediation services; community groups; schools and police.
The week is an annual initiative organised by Environmental Protection UK, a national charity that provides expert policy analysis and advice on air quality, land quality, waste and noise and their effects on people and communities.
For more information on Shropshire Council’s Noise Action Week activities, please contact Grania Miller, from the neighbourhood pollution team, on 01743 251865.
For further details of how the council can help deal with noise nuisance and pollution click here.
*Financial year, 1/4/10 to 30/3/11
Further information
Complaints about noise from domestic premises account for three quarters of all noise complaints. They have increased almost five times between 1984/5 and 2004/5 and almost 20 per cent between 2000/1 and 2004/5, according to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health statistics.
For more information on Noise Action Week nationally, email noiseactionweek@environmental-protection.org.uk, call 01273 878770 or visit www.noiseactionweek.org.uk
