Noise Pollution

Festivals are noisy - that's part of the reason why they're fun! But noise can be a pollutant too.

Noise Annoys - an article by Ben Challis

Don't Lose The Music - NEW PDF ADVICE SHEET. For more information see: www.dontlosethemusic.com

Look After Your Ears: a Glastonbury approach - EXTERNAL LINK: Glastonbury Website

Noise at Festivals

Noise is regularly noted as a major environmental impact of music festivals, particularly in densely populated countries. Management of such events requires careful planning of noise abatement. Environmental Health Department of local authorities currently set and monitor noise levels during events to ensure that agreed levels are not exceeded.

Some key points to consider:

  • Environmental Health Officers will monitor sound levels to ensure they are within certain parameters as a condition of license.
  • The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (2005) state that any prolonged exposure to noise of over 85dB in the workplace requires ear protection.
  • Any noise pollution caused by music festivals is temporary!
  • Organisers can be fined and refused license if sound levels or times are breached.
  • Some Events offer to pay for temporary relocation of residents in the immediate locality.
  • Provide free and discounted tickets to residents within a certain radius of the event (this will usually be done in any case).
  • Consider sound travel and proximity to local residents when choosing a location.
  • It is difficult to measure potential sound levels as the paths and distance of sound travel are variable depending upon meteorological conditions.

From an internet survey of 649 festival visitors the following was found with regards to attitudes to waste management at events:

  • Noise pollution is considered a potential impact by 50% of respondent.

This is the opinion of those visiting the festivals many of whom do actually go for the music. The picture if asking local residents may be somewhat different, as anybody who has attended a festival license hearing will be fully aware of!

Hannah Rossmorris, who deals with licensing and health & safety for Angel Music Group (Global Gathering, HiFi Festival, Escape Into The Park) refers to the noise controls that most Environmental Health Officers set and strictly enforce. Chris Kemp (Dean of Leisure & Tourism, BCUC) also describes the sound monitoring at Milton Keynes Bowl, whereby decibel readings are taken to ensure they do not exceed that set by the environmental health officer. Kemp also highlights the difficulties that organisers face when monitoring or controlling sound as weather conditions will impact upon its travel.

The survey results indicate that monitoring and control of noise is a prominent provision at festivals in the UK.

Three of the festival organisers questioned made reference to Noise pollution and local authority controls to minimise its nuisance. The control that local authorities enforce may be a reason for the lower percentage of festival-goer respondents worried about its impact. One respondent raised the point that noise pollution at festivals is only temporary. For noise disruption over a number of days it may be argued that any lasting damaging effects of this are negligible.

Noisy Nuisance?

Generally noise complaints to Environmental Health Officers have drastically increased over the last 20 years, particularly for road traffic. However, Defra (2005) point out that a rise in complaints doesn’t necessarily mean a rise in actual noise. In another survey conducted by National Statistics showed that of twenty environmental issues, noise pollution was the least worrying to the respondents (Defra, 2002).

Legislation

The issue of health and safety for the hearing of those working at events may be a more suited area for where this issue may lie, as covered by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.