§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to control noise pollution arising from refrigeration units on lorries. [10878]
§ Angela EagleManufacturers of refrigeration equipment are aware of the nuisance these devices can cause and I understand that noisier separate engines are slowly being replaced with more advanced systems which can be considerably quieter.
Traffic commissioners have powers when considering applications for operator licences to impose operational restrictions on a licence to minimise disturbance and, in certain circumstances, may refuse a licence.
Under part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993, local authorities have wide-ranging powers to prevent or abate noise nuisance which is prejudicial to health or a common law nuisance and which is emitted from vehicles, machinery and equipment in the street. If a local authority officer judges a problem complained about to be a "statutory nuisance" then he must serve an abatement notice on the person responsible or, where that person cannot be found, by placing the notice on the vehicle. Failure to comply with the terms of a noise abatement notice can result in substantial penalties.