§ 33. Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his proposed noise impact survey in the vicinity of Tain bombing range, with particular reference to the geographic area over which indicative readings will be taken and the proposed time scale of the survey.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe aim of the noise survey is to establish whether any homes in the vicinity of Tain bombing range are subject to noise levels of 70dB(A) or more averaged over a continuous 12-hour period. This is the qualifying level for the payment of insulation grants under the Department's existing noise compensation policy applicable to military airfields.
In advance of the survey, it will be necessary to determine the major approach and departure routes together with the numbers and types of aircraft which use the range. This information will allow the production of a computer-predicted 70dB(A) noise contour which will form the basis of the monitoring exercise.
Measurement sites will be carefully selected, in consultation with the local district council, to check the position of the computer predictions and to ensure that a representative picture of the noise environment is obtained.
It is planned that the noise survey will take place during spring this year but, as evaluation of the noise data is likely to take some time, the results are unlikely to be available before 1991.