A new Defra website - http://noisemapping.defra.gov.uk/cara/wps/portal/noise, launched by Environment Minister Jonathan Shaw, provides maps showing the level of environmental noise from major industries, road and rail networks in 23 urban areas in England.
The information, covering 80,000 km of roads within urban areas, 28,000 km of major road networks and almost 5,000 km of railways, will be used to draw up action plans to reduce unreasonable levels of noise, where practical. In urban areas these will also include measures to protect designated quiet areas.
Users are able to search by postcode to access maps that show noise levels over an average 24 hour period, as well as during night time hours only. The site also includes information on the number of people exposed to these levels of noise. All member states have to produce maps under the EU Environmental Noise Directive.
Environment Minister Jonathan Shaw said:
"Factors like transport and industry are a necessary part of modern life. But we need to look at what further practical steps we can take to make people's lives more tranquil.
"These maps provide the most comprehensive snapshot yet of noise in our country, all at the click of a mouse. They will provide a spring board to go forward and tackle unnecessary and unreasonable noise pollution.
"We will use them to draw up action plans to reduce noise where practical from major roads and railways, as well as from urban areas. The plans will include measures to protect designated quiet areas from any increase in noise."
The mapping was carried out during 2006-07 in line with Defra's work to implement the directive. They incorporate the noise maps produced for the 18 English airports that were published last December.
The next stage of the Department's work to implement the directive will be to develop action plans. This will include a public consultation.
