News Release Page Title

7 June 2000

SAM FOSTER AND MR NOISY SAY NO TO NUISANCE NOISE

Say no to nuisance noise.

That was the message coming loud and clear from Mr Noisy, the Mr Men character who has flown in to Northern Ireland to lend his ear to new DOE's campaign to reduce nuisance noise.

Mr Noisy will be in Cornmarket Belfast at 10.30am Wednesday 7th June, along with Environment Minister Sam Foster, to say no to nuisance noise.

In sounding his support for the campaign, Mr Foster said: "Today is Noise Action Day. I want to raise the volume of awareness on this important issue. DOE's Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) has carried out research into the sounds neighbours love and loathe. Dogs barking, loud music and family rows are top of the nuisance list.

"My message to people is to take a second to think of your neighbours before you turn on the stereo, plug in the drill or leave the dog alone to bark. Is your noise appropriate for the time of day? Is your noise too loud? Be better neighbours. Be tolerant.

"Further, I applaud the work being done by a number of District Councils to promote Noise Action Day. Remember people don't need to suffer in silence.

The District Councils have powers to deal with nuisance noise. Further, EHS has produced leaflets giving guidance in these matters."

In concluding, Mr Foster said: "Noise is on the increase. More than half of people surveyed said the levels of neighbours noise has increased in recent years. Therefore, in welcoming Mr Noisy to Belfast, he does have a very serious message to portray-noise can be a nuisance. Say no to nuisance noise!"

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The DOE's Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) is hosting a media event at 10.30am Wednesday 7th June in Cornmarket Belfast, Minister for the Environment Sam Foster, will be in attendance for interview and photographs, along with Mr Men character Mr Noisy.
  2. Noise Action Day aims to educate both noise makers and noise sufferers about the impacts that environmental noise pollution can have on our day lives, on others and in some cases on hearing.
  3. As part of Noise Action Day, EHS has carried out a noise survey. It reveals the following.
  • Dogs barking are considered to be the most annoying noise in the neighbourhood (53% with children playing coming second at 28%).
  • Arguing is the activity most overheard by neighbours (39%), with singing second (19%).
  • More people claim to have overheard their neighbours making love (4%) than mowing the lawn (1%).
  • Older people are more likely than younger people to moan about loud music (45% of 55-64 year olds compared to 9% of 15-24 year olds).
  • Over three times the number of men found the sound of hoovering more irritating than women do (75% compared with 25%).
  • Trickling streams comes a close second to music as the nations favourite noise (55%).
  • A third more women than men say their favourite noise is the sound of children playing and laughing (60% compared with 42%).
  • 61% of people would prefer to complain to a neighbour about noise face to face, though a small percentage of people (4%) deal with it by banging on the ceiling, floor or wall.
  • 24% of all people find DIY a real noise annoyance.
  • 11% of people find the thumping bass car stereos annoying. This figure rises to 22% of 55-64 year olds.
  • 58% of people have said that the level of noise their neighbours make has increased in recent years.

DOE funds Noise Action Day and has produced two leaflets "Bothered by Noise, There's No Need To Suffer" and "Constant Barking Can Be Avoided". Leaflets are available on request from the EHS or your local District Council Environmental Health Department.

The Pollution Control and Local Government (NI) Order 1978 gives powers to District Councils to deal with and abate noise nuisance. This legislation has been supplemented by the Noise Act 1996.

Further details regarding the noise survey are available from Helen Anderson, Environment and Heritage Service, Department of the Environment, tel. 028 90 254817.

Further details on the media event at Cornmarket can be obtained from Philip Maguire DOE Press Office Tel. 028 90 540013/540003 e mail philip.j.maguire@doeni.gov.uk