Implementing the Mayor of London’s Ambient NoiseStrategy

摘要

An important issue facing London and other European cities is how action plans to controlrnambient (or ‘environmental’) noise can best be formulated and implemented in a large and administrativelyrncomplex city. For London, this takes place in the context of a previous lack in the UK of overall strategicrnplanning on ambient noise. The Mayor of London’s Ambient Noise Strategy – the first city-wide noisernstrategy in the UK – is a key development and provides a comprehensive set of techniques, policies andrnproposals to tackle ambient noise. The challenge now is to turn these into practical plans which can mobilisernresources for action. This paper places the Strategy in the context of UK and European policy and explainsrnthe first steps proposed to begin the implementation process. It identifies the need to develop pilot projects torndemonstrate the possibilities, especially of the more novel and innovative ideas. Practical initiatives in thernmanagement of transport noise, such as the use of quieter road surfaces, have to be pursued against arnbackground of intense competition for investment, while the promotion of good ‘sound-conscious’ urbanrndesign will be essential if higher densities and more mixed use are to fully succeed. Noise mapping will havernan important role to play in prioritising action, though qualitative aspects must not be overlooked. Citiesrnneed criteria for areas that are quiet within the local context. Further work is needed to assess the differentrnimpacts of noise on the many socio-economic groups in one of the world’s most diverse cities.