Noise Control
The Pollution Control & Local Government (NI) Order 1978 imposes a duty on District Councils through their Environmental Health Officer to deal with noise nuisances which arise in their areas.
Noise Sources
Sources of noise are wide ranging and include domestic premises, industrial/commercial developments, construction sites and public entertainment venues.
Domestic Noise Nuisances
Almost 80% of nuisances investigated arise from domestic properties. Complaints received include those concerning noise from barking dogs, DIY work and amplified music.
Investigation Process
When a complaint is received, the Environmental Health Officer will normally ask the complainant to complete a noise monitoring form over a period of three weeks or more. If on completion this information indicates that a statutory noise nuisance may exist, the officer will attempt to gather independent evidence. This can be done by setting up noise monitoring equipment to record and measure the offending noise and/or by officers witnessing the noise and measuring it.
Resolving Complaints
Resolution of a noise nuisance can either be dealt with on an informal or statutory basis. The informal approach is normally the preferred option as this tends to resolve the problem faster and creates less hostility between the parties. This approach may include structured mediation. Formal action which can be taken to resolve the problem includes the serving of a statutory notice and the instigation of legal proceedings in the Magistrates Court.
Industrial/Commercial Noise Nuisance
Occasionally noise complaints concerning commercial or industrial noise sources are received. The Environmental Health Officer will ensure where a nuisance is established that all reasonable and practical steps are taken by the person responsible to ensure that the noise levels are controlled at a suitable level. Any resulting formal action where a statutory noise notice has been served may be followed up by court action where necessary.
Public Entertainment Noise
Noise emanating from premises such as pubs, clubs and discos which have an entertainment licence is controlled by enforcing licensing conditions to ensure residents in the area are not unreasonably disturbed.
Construction Site Noise
Local authorities can enforce hours of operation and noise levels on construction sites where noise is affecting residents or businesses in the area.
AIR POLLUTION
Under the provisions of the Clean Air (NI) Order 1981 and the Public Health Acts, Local Authorities have the power to control pollution from industrial, commercial and residential premises. Typical complaints investigated by Environmental Health Officers include the emission of dark smoke from factories, nuisance from the open air burning of waste and the emission of smoke from domestic premises located within smoke control areas.
Since March 1998 new powers have been granted to Local Authorities to control levels of pollution from certain industrial processes. Under the Industrial Pollution Control Order these industries will have to comply with emission control standards limiting the level of dust, process gases and odours that they emit.
Central Government also has a role in controlling air pollution from certain larger and often more potentially polluting industries which come under the control of the Department of Environment, Environment Service, Industrial Pollution and Radiochemical Inspectorate, Calvert House, 23 Castle Street, Belfast, BT1 1FY – (028) 9025 4754.
Air Pollution Monitoring
Castlereagh Borough Council, Environmental Health Service will routinely survey for a number of air pollutants such as smoke particulates, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and ozone to ensure that your local air quality does not deteriorate and to provide central government with information to help them legislate for a clearer environment. In the longer term Local Authorities will have to assess air quality in their own areas for a wider range of pollutants – Local Air Quality Review Document. The concentration of these pollutants will be compared against UK air quality standards. In cases where the new standards are likely to be exceeded, Local Authorities will have to consider the implementation of air quality management areas. The Environment and Heritage Service have given a commitment to introduce legislation giving local Councils powers to implement such areas.
Water Pollution
The Environment Service (Water Quality Branch) is also responsible for the investigation of pollution of watercourses and coastal waters and as well as protecting the many rivers, streams and lakes in the Province, they are also concerned with the quantity and quality of underground water.
Illegal Dumping
The Environmental Health Service will investigate complaints concerning the dumping of material on land which is not a licensed waste disposal site. Steps will be taken by the Council to ensure that the person responsible for the dumping or the owner of the land is required to remove the waste and dispose of it at a licensed disposal site.
RADIATION
What District Councils are doing?
All District Councils in Northern Ireland are members of a nation-wide monitoring network known as LARRMACC (Local Authority Radiation and Radioactivity Monitoring Advice and Collation Centre). The aim is to provide quality assured independent information on radiation matters at a local level. As part of this a comprehensive monitoring and sampling programme for radiation has been set up.
Monitoring Programme
Background levels of gamma radioactivity from the ground have been measured throughout Northern Ireland on a 10km grid basis using radiation meters.
The background levels enable changes to be detected more easily in the event of any future radiation incidents.
Radiation monitors have also been installed at five locations throughout Northern Ireland by the DoE. A further five monitors are to be installed by District Councils. These monitors are designed to continuously check levels of radiation and trigger an alarm if unusually high levels are detected. The Eastern Group (of which Castlereagh is a part of) monitor is installed at Portavogie.
In the event of any radiation incident affecting the United Kingdom, action will be taken by the Government under a National Response Plan.
Sampling Programme
A sampling programme of foodstuffs and environmental materials has been ongoing since 1984. These samples have been routinely submitted for radioactivity and although they show some contamination are well within accepted guidelines issued by the National Radiological Protection Board and are much less than radiation levels from natural sources such as radon.
RADON
What is Radon?
Radon is a natural radioactive gas which has no taste, smell or colour. Special equipment is needed to detect it. The level of radioactivity in the area due to the presence of radon, is measured in units of “Becquerel per cubic metre”(Bq/m3). The average level found in UK houses is Bq/m3. It comes from the radioactive decay of radium which, in turn, comes from the radioactive decay of uranium.
How can radon affect me?
Radon in the soil and rocks mixes with air and rises to the surface where it is quickly diluted in the atmosphere. In some circumstances, when it enters enclosed spaces such as houses, it can reach high levels of concentration. As the radon decays, it forms minute particles of a radioactive substance which are called Radon daughters which, when inhaled can be deposited in the lungs. The radiation emitted by these particles as they decay can give high doses to lung tissue and may damage them. This product increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
How do I know if my home has high radon levels?
If you live in an area which might be affected by radon and want to have your home tested, write to Radon Survey, National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0RQ. Depending mainly on where you live, NRPB will advise whether your home should be measured. If the advice is that a measurement should be made, it will be FREE. If not, you may still have it done, but you will have to pay.
If measurements are to be made, NRPB will send you two small detectors: one for the living room, one for the bedroom. The detectors contain special plastic to measure radon and are harmless. After three months they should be returned for processing. NRPB will write to tell you the radon levels in your home. In some cases NRPB may suggest measurements for a further three months to get a more accurate estimate of the average radon level in you home. Radon measurements taken over a period shorter than three months can be seriously misleading.
What should I do if my home has a high level of radon?
The recommended action level for radon in existing homes, above which action is recommended to reduce it, is 200 Bq/m3 average radon concentration over a full year. Advice on how to reduce the risk of radon gas entering your home can be obtained from us directly at the Environmental Health Service or Building Control Service of Castlereagh Borough Council.
What can I do to reduce the risk of radon gas entering a new building?
Details of how to reduce the ingress of radon are contained in the Department of the Environment’s publication. “The Householders’ Guide to Radon” third edition.
(The Becquerel (Bq) is a unit of radioactivity and corresponds to one radioactive disintegration per second).
The south east corner of Northern Ireland has been classified as a Radon Affected Area. Currently householders in the Affected Area are being offered free Radon tests funded by the Environment Service. Stricter controls will also apply to the construction of new dwellings and existing householders may be able to claim grant aid from the N.I. Housing Executive for remedial radon works.
For further information on environmental radiation matters contact:
Castlereagh Borough Council, Environmental Health Service on Telephone N (028) 9049 4640 or alternatively:
The Environment Service , Department of the Environment for N.I. , Calvert House , 23 Castle Place , BELFAST , BT1 1FY , Telephone: (028) 9025 4754