2 comments so far.Draft noise action plan published for public consultation
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A Noise Action Plan, which seeks to identify measures aimed at avoiding, preventing or reducing where necessary, the harmful exposure and effects of environmental noise on human health, resulting from major road traffic has been published by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for public consultation.
The draft Action Plan and its summary, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Environment Noise Directive covering a five year period, also provides an overview of the requirements and obligations of the Environment Noise Regulations and presents a summary of the results of the strategic noise mapping within Malta.
The adopted approach in this action plan is to manage and reduce environmental noise emissions and its impact at source through operating procedures and restrictions. The Directive does not cover and address noise pollution at the workplace, entertainment venues or construction sites. Neither does it regulate neighbourhood, firework or consumer product noise, noise nuisance and noise transmission between dwellings.
This plan was drafted on the recommendations given to the Authority by a team of noise experts that were engaged to assist in the implementation of the Environment Noise Directive, to prepare the required noise maps and to draft technical specifications for the supply of noise monitoring equipment.
Although the current noise project, which was funded by MEPA’s own funds, the noise monitoring project, including the monitoring equipment and noise mapping software forms part of a larger initiative which aims to enhance Malta’s environmental monitoring infrastructure and capacity in the areas of noise, water, air, radiation and soil. This larger project, worth over €4.9 million is co-funded by the EU’s European Regional Development fund and the Maltese government under Malta’s Operational Programme I, ‘Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of life.’ The project started last year and is expected to be completed before July 2013.
The Authority is inviting the public to submit any comments and recommendations on this draft Noise Action Plan. Submissions are to be sent to the Authority by not later than 28th June 2011 to:
Waste, Air, Radiation and Noise Unit
Environment Protection Directorate
Malta Environment & Planning Authority
St. Francis Ravelin
Floriana, Malta
Or through email address: noiseplan@mepa.org.mt
about time, its quite simple,
1. spot checks with a decibele meter on vehicles which have non standard manufacturers exhausts which vehicle owners fit because they think their vehicles look or sound good,
2.emmision and decibel checks on vehicles with smoking exhausts
3. take the vehicles off the road until the faults are rectified and passed legal by a vrt station
4. impliment a police traffic unit like in other eu countrys whos job is to enforce traffic noise and polluton violations.
its not rocket science
Apart from decibel tests for modified exhausts, I recommend also the same to apply to motorcycles (which frequently emit sharp noises), and to loud stereo music emanating from passing cars.
I also suggest that checks are carried out on beaches where there is usually a lot of screaming and shouting.
Besides, I would like to see the curbing of the practice of sharp screamiong voices drawing tombola numbers especially under the bedroom window of some aging people. This happens very freuently in the shaded environs of Marsalforn Police Station particulary during summer months.