HC Deb 25 November 1955 vol 546 cc153-4W
Sir L. Heald

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislative or administrative machinery exists for the control of excessive noise and vibration; and what Regulations are at present in force for this purpose.

Prosecutions Found guilty Absolute* discharge Conditional† discharge Fine Other disposal
1945 Not available
1946 978 958 89 869
1947 1,590 1,541 140 1,401
1948 1,303 1,268 98 1 1,169
1949 1,921 1,856 142 5 1,709
1950 2,682 2,602 129 7 2,466
1951 3,114 3,029 132 16 2,881
1952 3,065 2,988 130 20 2,838
1953 2,912 2,818 101 11 2,706
1954 3,144 3,057 113 13 2,931
* Before 1949—Dismissed. † Before 1949—Recognizances.

Major Lloyd-George

The answer is as follows:

Statutory provisions and other legal remedies dealing with noise in general. Nuisance by noise, if sufficiently great, may be dealt with on indictment as a misdemeanour at common law. Civil proceedings may be taken for an injunction to restrain a person from making an unreasonable noise. Many local authorities have local Act powers under which any excessive or unreasonable or unnecessary noise which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance is a statutory nuisance which may be dealt with summarily under Part III of the Public Health Act, 1936.

Statutory provisions and administrative arrangements dealing with particular kinds of noise.

Shouting, etc., in streets. Section 54 of the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839. Byelaws have been made by many local authorities outside the Metropolis under Section 249 of the Local Government Act, 1933, dealing with noisy instruments and singing in streets, and street shouting and hawking.

Motor vehicles. Regulations 20, 77, 81, 82, 84, 85 and 91 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1955 (S.I. 1955, No. 482).

Aviation. Article 56 of the Air Navigation Order, 1954 (S.I. 1954, No. 829) and Regulation 230 of the Air Navigation (General) Regulations. 1954 (S.I. 1954, No. 925).

Sir L. Heald

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instituted in respect of offences involving excessive noise or vibration during the last ten years.

Major Lloyd-George

The following gives the only figures available—those for prosecutions of noise offences in connection with motor vehicles. I regret that it is not possible to sub-divide these to show separately offences against Regulations 20, 77, 81, 82, 84, 85 and 91 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1955.

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