You’ll see from our Traffic Noise Information Sheet that a huge number of people are bothered by traffic noise. Indeed, it is the noise that affects most people. But it is actually quite difficult to get something done about it.

How do I go about getting something done about traffic noise?

Find out which authority is responsible for your road. Your local council will be able to tell you this. It is likely to be the council themselves, but sometimes main roads are the responsibility of other authorities, such as the County Council, the Highways Agency or, in London, Transport for London.

But before approaching anybody be clear in your own mind exactly what the problem is. It may be a badly-installed road hump or it may just be heavy lorries which are causing the problem, though for most people the problem tends to be the sheer number of cars on the road.

Once you are clear what the problem is, it is worth contacting somebody in the roads or transport department of the authority responsible for the road. This is likely to be a transport officer, but also contact your local councillor (or even your MP) because they are the people with the political clout. Officers in a Council, in the end of the day, only carry out the decisions of the councillors – see Who does What Briefing Sheet.

Your complaint will carry more weight if it doesn’t just come from you. If you can get together a few neighbours, maybe even form a local action group, you are more likely to be successful. (See How to Campaign Effectively Briefing Sheet).

Go as a group to see the council officers, the councillors and your MP. Maybe even think of holding a Public Meeting or, if nobody is listening to you, an eye-catching demonstration. If the Council is not doing anything, tell the media. (See How to Campaign Effectively Briefing Sheet).

But always remain very clear what the problem is because different problems will require different solutions.

If, for example it is just one badly-installed road hump outside your house, the solution may be fairly straightforward and there would be no point in getting the rest of your street involved as most of your neighbours would not be affected by the problem.

If the problem is one of heavy lorries at night, that is likely to affect many of your neighbours. It is worth you all getting together. And there may be a relatively straightforward solution such as the lorries being diverted on to a more suitable, non-residential route.

If the problem is constant noise from the sheer amount of traffic on the road, it is likely that at least some of your neighbours will be keen to form an action group. The Council may well argue that there is not much that they can do. But have a look at our Traffic Noise Information Sheet. There are things that they can do. Quieter road surfaces or lower speed limits are two things that could make all the difference.

UK Noise Association, PO BOX 551

Chatham, Kent ME4 9AJ

Tel: 01634 863 852 www.ukna.org.uk info@ukna.org.uk

Briefing Sheets: Traffic Noise—What Can I Do?