Traffic NOISE and health

From day one of the campaign the number one complaint from local residents has been the problem of night time noise, some from speeding traffic but primarily noise from HGV traffic, (some of which is also speeding).  Reference to government Planning and Transport policy guidelines, on keeping HGV traffic away from residential areas, particularly through the night is to be found elsewhere on this site.  All of this has been brought to the attention of councillors and MP alike, many times over and has been ignored.  The health issues associated with traffic noise and disturbed sleep are well researched and documented.  The following is just a small snippet of what can be found on the World Health Organisation website:


Noise
Excessive noise seriously harms human health and interferes with people’s daily activities at school, at work, at home and during leisure time. It can disturb sleep, cause cardiovascular and psychophysiological effects, reduce performance and provoke annoyance responses and changes in social behaviour.

Traffic noise alone is harmful to the health of almost every third person in the WHO European Region. One in five Europeans is regularly exposed to sound levels at night that could significantly damage health.
WHO/Europe uses evidence on the health effects of noise to identify the needs of vulnerable groups and to offer technical and policy guidance to protect health.
Link to the above

Many years ago sound monitoring was undertaken on two properties fronting the A639/A642 and excessive night time noise levels were recorded.  Again this was put to councillors and MP, and ignored!

It is interesting to note where our councillors live (not secret) in relation to traffic volumes and traffic issues they themselves face (None).