It's Official - A4 is one Britain's noisiest roads
A report recently published by the United Kingdom
Noise Association has placed the A4/M4 as the third noisiest road in Britain
Since
launching their competition to find Britain’s noisiest in February, they
have been inundated with applications and have traveled the length and
breadth of the country listening to noisy roads.
The criteria was not measured in decibels but by the level of intrusion
into the surrounding resident’s lives as well as the duration of noise
and the number of people affected.
Unsurprisingly London roads featured prominently in the final placings.
Inevitable, perhaps, given the sheer level of traffic in the capital and
the close proximity of Heathrow Airport.
Roads featured in the top five were :
M25 and the motorways of the UK - Fifth spot was awarded to the UK's motorways.
The decibel levels of the traffic noise on motorways like the M25 are
higher than any other road. But there were surprisingly few nominations
for motorways - maybe because, generally, properties tend not to be situated
right beside the roads.
Dockwell Close, Heathrow - Inevitably, there were a number of nominations
for roads in the Heathrow area, but the best case was made for Dockwell
Close, near Hatton Cross "It lies at the end of the Southern Runway
of Heathrow Airport and suffers from both take off and landing noise.
Residents suffer both acute and chronic noise ranging from Concorde taking
off at full throttle to aircraft engine ground testing at night."
A researcher said, "At first sight, Dockwell Close seems like a pleasant
suburban street. But within 90 seconds it all changes as the roar of a
jet overhead shatters any illusion of peace and quiet. Dockwell Close
was nominated by John Jones, Head of Neighbourhood Enforcement, London
Borough of Hounslow.
A4 in West London - This road has the characteristics of a motorway, but
with little of the protection afforded by motorways. Thousands of people
live within yards of this London road. To make matters worse, sections
of the A4 are under the Heathrow flight path. The A4 was also nominated
by John Jones, Head of Neighbourhood Enforcement, London Borough of Hounslow
Finally, the undesirable title of ‘the Noisest Road in Britain’ was awarded
to the North Circular. Nothing the researchers experienced matched its
thunderous roar, a researcher likened the experience to "being assaulted
by a torrent of noise." It is a motorway in all but name however,
it is a 'motorway' that roars through residential areas. Thousands of
people live within yards of the North Circular and many of them have no
protection from the unremitting noise.
Based on the findings of this latest report, it certainly would appear
that London’s Mayor and his ambient noise study group has its work cut
out. It also shows that Grove Park’s anti noise campaigners are in respectable
and extensive company.
April 9, 2003
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