Investigation reveals the extent of noise pollution in Thanet
LONG-SUFFERING Steve Higgins says living on the flight path for Manston airport is so loud it hurts.
Using a sound level measure, the Isle of Thanet Gazette recorded noise levels of 70 to 80 decibels (dB) from the village of Manston during takeoffs but Mr Higgins said it can top 100dB.
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SQUAWK: Seagulls can screech up to 80dB at close range
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not so quiet: Margate Library had noise levels of up to 70dB
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ARRRGH! Reporter Andrew Woodman is driven mad by the sound of traffic in Margate's Cecil Square
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PLANE NOISY: Aeroplanes using Manston Airport were measured at 80dB in the village GIIS20120109D-010_C
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SOUND WAVE: The soothing sounds of waves on Thanet's beaches are actually as loud as 82 to 90dB
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WHAT A SCREAMER: Crying babies can be up to 80dB
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TRANQUIL: North Foreland is good for a bit of hush, with noise levels of around 55-60dB
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SOUND PROBE: Used to measure noise
He said: "It makes the windows rattle and shake – it's very difficult not to hear it. When you're in the garden it's actually painful. You have to put your hands over your ears."
The flight sounds we recorded compare with those of a screeching seagull from 10 metres (75dB), the office fire alarm in the Isle of Thanet Gazette's newsroom (86 DB) and the noise of a passing motorbike (90dB).
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Mr Higgins said: "When it's a measurement on paper it's difficult to put it together.
"The sound of a very loud motorbike, though it might read as the same decibels – a motorbike you don't hear it coming 30 seconds away and 30 seconds after it's gone.
"A motorbike, you can't hear when it puts on the reverse thrusters and makes a deep groan as it goes over Ramsgate."
The Aircraft Noise Index Study concluded in 1987 that 57db was the level at which aircraft noise became a nuisance.
Elsewhere on the isle, the noise levels in Margate library (65 to 70dB) were, surprisingly, close to those of a bus and general traffic from the pavement (68 to 75dB) – so not much hope for people looking for a bit of quiet study.
The sound of the sea is famously soothing. Waves breaking on Margate Main Sands registered at 82 to 90dB.
Jason Dors-Lake, who lives in Eagle House on Viking Bay beach said: "There was one time when the waves were crashing against the wall – that was slightly troubling. But basically it's quite soothing. I like when it's soothing and even when it's stormy."
Mr Dors-Lake is less keen, however, on the leaf blowers once used on the beach by council workers.
"It used to wake me up when they were doing it at 8am, blowing the sand off the boardwalk," he added.
The sound of a crying or shouting child was measured at about 80dB.
Fiona Crawford of Helter Skelter Children's Play Centre in Broadstairs, said: "A lot of people say 'how can you stand the noise?' We don't mind. We don't notice.
"It can get noisy – but the children are having a good time."
Golfers often escape the hurly-burly with a round on NorthForeland's serene course in Broadstairs.
The sound level meter registered 55 to 60dB on the course.
Surveys have shown that about half of the UK population live in areas where daytime sound levels exceed those recommended on the World Health Organisation's guidelines for community noise.
But the physiological effects of noise are complex and hard to measure.
A recent report on environmental noise in the UK by the Health Protection Agency's Ad Hoc Expert Group on Noise and Health found several links.
Chairman of the group Dr Robert Maynard said: "There is increasing evidence that environmental noise, from both aircraft and road traffic, is associated with raised blood pressure and with a small increase in the risk of coronary heart disease.
"Evidence that environmental noise damages mental health is, on the other hand, inconclusive."
Thanet council's policy on noise nuisances, as published online: "We receive complaints about noise, ranging from barking dogs to loud music, burglar alarms going off to noise from building sites.
"If we find a problem we will try to sort it out on a friendly and informal basis, but if this does not work we have legal powers to deal with the noise."
Comments
by suken100
Sunday, May 27 2012, 5:14PM
“The noise we're talking about is night time noise. Not sure how some comments here are relevant to that. Near an airport - expect noise, true. Near an airport that doesn't have night flights - expect there not to be noise at night, true. What was asked for represents a change, one that anybody can object to, as they have, on very many evidence grounds. What has not been evidenced is that night flights, and night flights alone, will create jobs. What is evidenced is the damage it will do to health and to the local economy i.e. jobs lost.
It astounds me how personal the attacks on the no night flight position becomes and one of the standard responses seems to be 'MOVE!' How unpleasant. Someone disagrees with you and you tell them to move. I am not some NIMBY as so often is claimed - I object to night flying anywhere and have supported campaigns against such elsewhere. And before you anybody says anything, no, I don't fly at night myself.
Manston has more than enough daytime slots to build a successful airport, as many other airports have proved. The recent decision favouring the anti-night flight campaigners at Frankfurt signals a new era and our own Government will be looking at this as part of the consultation process to renegotiate new flying schedules at Heathrow as the agreement runs out in 2014. Every, Conservative, MP with a constituency under the Heathrow flightpath is campaigning to have night flights stopped (bear in mind that night flights at Heathrow are already not allowed between 1..30 and 4.30 currently) and many councils under the flight path take a similar position.
Thanet District Council are entirely in line with the sort of best practice stance that the World Health Organisation recommends. They should be supported in this decision.”
by DavidAycliffe
Sunday, May 27 2012, 2:53PM
“Which are probably be operated by those that are complaining about aircraft noise.....”
by john374999
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 7:11PM
“In Broadstairs all I seem to hear is lawnmowers and strimmers early every morning”
by HSDEAL
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 5:14PM
“So waves breaking are noisier than aircraft taking off/landing at Manston... I can hear the sea from my house and it doesn't stop me from sleeping.
It's about time Thanet Council and East Kent MP's backed Manston night flights and backed East Kent.”
by DavidAycliffe
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 12:22PM
“More nonsense! Since when has Iceland and Luxembourg been in the Third World? And there is always two ends to every runway”
by HardupNative
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 11:02AM
“http://tinyurl.com/7byy4vv
If this night crash, involving the kind of third world companies that land at Manston, had happened at Manston the impact site would have been in urban Ramsgate. This is even more important than noise.”
by DavidAycliffe
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 10:39AM
“And your point about noise from Manston is what exactly? That aircraft on approach and take off to an airport generate noise? Well, well you amaze me. And hang on, isn't that "Long suffering" Steve Higgins the same Steve Higgins who founded the Stop Manston Expansion Group? So no axe to grind there then?
Manston has operated as an airfield since 1916, so it's not exactly been hiding away, did it not occur to these people when they moved in that an airport might just generate some aircraft noise? Obviously not, so can I offer a simple solution to all that running around huffing and puffing with noise meter in hand and all of that Mr Angry e-mailing and letter writing - MOVE! From what I'm hearing, contrary to reports of its demise, Manston Airport will be around for a lot longer and become a lot busier”
by DavidAycliffe
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 10:30AM
“And your point about noise from Manston is what exactly? That aircraft on approach and take off to an airport generate noise? Well, well you amaze me. And hang on, isn't that "Long suffering" Steve Higgins the same Steve Higgins who founded the Stop Manston Expansion Group? So no axe to grind there then?
Manston has operated as an airfield since 1916, so it's not exactly been hiding away, did it not occur to these people when they moved in that an airport might just generate some aircraft noise? Obviously not, so can I offer a simple solution to all that running around huffing and puffing with noise meter in hand and all of that Mr Angry e-mailing and letter writing - MOVE! From what I'm hearing, contrary to reports of its demise, Manston Airport will be around for a lot longer and become a lot busier”