§ Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what success he has achieved in negotiating a lowering of the permitted decibel level of the noise of lorries operating in EEC countries.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Council of the European Communities is now considering a draft directive for reducing the maxi-mum permitted noise levels of new vehicles, including lorries, but has not yet reached a decision.
§ Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of people living in roads with unacceptable noise levels; and what is his estimate for 1980.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Noise Insulation Regulations provide in certain circumstances for the insulation of dwellings which are expected to become exposed to noise levels of 68 dB(A) or more on the L10 (18 hours) scale as the result of the opening of new roads. A survey carried out on the Department's behalf in 1972–73 showed that the numbers of people living in England whose homes are being exposed to traffic noise levels in excess of 70 and 65 dB(A) on the same scale were then about 3.2 million and 7.3 million respectively. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is preparing estimates for 1980. I shall write to my hon. Friend with the details as soon as they are available.
§ Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in reducing road traffic noise especially from heavy lorries; and what plans there are for future development.
§ Dr. GilbertTraffic noise is being tackled by reducing vehicle noise levels, and by traffic regulation. I have dealt with vehicle noise in an earlier reply to 305W my hon. Friend today. Local authorities have a duty under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 to exercise their traffic management functions having regard, among other things, to the effect on the amenity of the locality. Specifically, the Heavy Commercial Vehicles (Controls and Regulations) Act 1973 placed upon local authorities the duty to prepare proposals for regulation of the use of roads in their area by heavy commercial vehicles so as to preserve or improve the amenities of their area, and to make draft traffic regulation orders by 1st January 1977.