Newham's noise pollution problem blamed on under-25s

The rising problem of noise pollution in the London borough of Newham has been blamed on the under-25 population in the area.

Newham has experienced a rise in the problem of noise with officials claiming that the local council now receives around 155 a week noise complaints from residents.

The region has undergone a great deal of renovation and regeneration projects over the course of recent years and this has brought an increasingly younger population.

Currently, 40 per cent of Newham's 254,000 resident are under the age of 25.

Muhammad Islam, senior environmental health officer at Newham Council's Noise and Nuisance team, said: "The diversity within Newham Borough makes it a vibrant and exciting place to live.

"However, like all boroughs, we have our challenges such as noise nuisance complaints.

"Many noise problems, particularly those involving neighbours, can be resolved informally by individuals speaking to each other to explain the problem.

"However, if this approach fails, we put processes in place to help."

While the vast majority have ways of dealing with noise complaints and similar issues, there are often variations when it comes to the methods and tactics employed.

Currently, there is no set guideline laid down in law for noise or frequency of decibel levels that residents must follow. Instead it is left up to the individual councils and boroughs to use their own judgement.

The vast majority of councils, including Newham suggest that residents approach one another in order to come to an amicable agreement directly.

Should this not prove fruitful, the next best approach to be used is an independent third party mediation procedure.

A formal complaint needs to be implemented before residents can then approach the Noise and Nuisance team to investigate the problem directly.

This can, and usually does, involve regular visits from a Noise Officer.

A noise nuisance recorder can then be installed if the noise is intermittent and is therefore unnoticed by officers for whatever reason.

Mr Islam explains: "A noise nuisance recorder is an extremely valuable piece of equipment for local authorities and housing associations, as it provides the means of monitoring whether a noise complaint by a local resident is credible."

Posted by Lauren Steadman