April 29th: International Noise Awareness Day – Campaigners issue their ‘Noise Manifesto’
Noise campaigners representing different organizations in the UK are joining forces with campaigners in Germany, to mark the 29th April – as International Noise Awareness Day. UK campaigners want the next Government to take noise seriously. They have a manifesto on noise, which includes a demand for reductions in aircraft noise with fairer flight paths; reduction in road traffic noise by lower speed limits; measures to limit noise from wind farms; and a ban on piped music in public areas where people cannot avoid it. 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of Noise Awareness Day. The UK noise campaigners have made links with anti-noise campaigners in Germany. In Berlin, a day of events, including demonstrations and a conference, will take place on 29th April organized by campaigners against road, rail and aircraft noise. Val Weedon, president of the UK Noise Association, said: “Each year local authorities and government departments are deluged with complaints about noise. Yet the election manifestos are virtually silent on noise. We are urging the next Government to speak out about noise and implement practical measures to improve the noise climate”.
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April 29th: International Noise Awareness Day – Campaigners issue their ‘Noise Manifesto’
29.4.2015
Noise campaigners representing different organizations have come together to call on the next Government to take noise seriously.
To mark the 20th anniversary of International Noise Awareness Day http://chchearing.org/noise/day/ on 29th April, the campaigners have issued their Noise Manifesto. It outlines six key things the next Government could do to improve the noise climate (see below).
Campaigners launch their manifesto outside Parliament
The UK campaigners have made links with anti-noise campaigners in Germany. A day of events, including demonstrations and a conference, will take place in Berlin on 29th April organized by campaigners against road, rail and aircraft noise.
Val Weedon, president of the UK Noise Association, said: “Each year local authorities and government departments are deluged with complaints about noise. Yet the election manifestos are virtually silent on noise. We are urging the next Government to speak out about noise and implement practical measures to improve the noise climate”.
Meanwhile, at Gatwick on Saturday 25th, to tie in with the German activities on April 29th, the polar bears from Plane Stupid invaded the terminal at Gatwick to protest against any plans for a 2nd runway. Local people helped them out with a bit of singing (including in the song, a verse about “What shall we do with the noisy flight paths? … response “Keep on protesting till they stop them.”
This entertaining video shows the polar bears at work: https://vimeo.com/125997196
A range of events are taking place in Berlin on 29th and 30th April. For more information of the Berlin events:
Six key things the next Government could do to improve the noise climate:
- Aircraft Noise: Ensure fair flight paths for all
- Road Traffic Noise: Cut speed limits
- Rail Noise: Retrofit all trains with quieter brakes – would cut noise by up to 50%
- Wind Farm Noise: Update official noise guidelines in order to better assess the impact on communities
- Neighbour Noise: Fine local authorities who persistently fail to tackle neighbour noise problems
- Piped Music: Ban piped music from public places, such as hospitals, where people have no choice but listen to it
Published by the UK Noise Association – www.ukna.org.uk, with the support of
AirportWatch www.airportwatch.org.uk,
HACAN – www.hacan.org.uk and
Pipedown – www.pipedown.info
April 2015