Vol. 417 No. 6
56 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends introducing legislation to protect the environment from excessive noise levels emanating from traffic using major roads particularly in built up areas; and if he will outline the guidelines used by local authorities at present when planning or constructing new roads throughout the country.
Regulations under the Road Traffic Acts provide for controls on vehicle noise. Provision to improve the law in relation to noise is included in the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 1990.
While there are no formal guidelines regarding noise levels, local authorities, when planning or constructing new roads, seek to minimise the noise effect on neighbouring property. When and where necessary, local authorities provide noise abatement features including tree planting, earth bund construction and barriers. The procedures for calculating noise from road traffic is based on the Department of Transport/Welsh Office publication "Calculation of Road Traffic Noise".
In the case of roads which require an environmental impact assessment, the regulations specify that the assessment must identify, describe and assess the direct and indirect environmental effect of the proposed road under a number of headings including the creation of nuisance; this would include noise.
