Noise Pollution

Environmental Health has responsibility for investigating most types of noise problems.

Examples of the types of complaint dealt with include:

Construction Noise
Model aircraft noise. For full size aircraft see Aircraft Noise
Pubs and clubs (entertainment noise)
Vehicle, house and business alarms
Noise from businesses, except some large industrial sites, which are regulated by SEPA - Scottish Environment Protection Agency. (In these cases, we will forward any complaint we receive to SEPA, advising the complainant of the action taken)
Dog Barking and other Animal Noise
Noise from Railways and Railway Engineering

Other types of noise

Aircraft noise is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority. However, complaints about aircraft using Edinburgh Airport should be directed to the airport itself. See Aircraft Noise for more information

Neighbour / Household noise complaints are the responsibility of the Safer Neigbourhoods Team which can be contacted on 01506 280000. This team also provides an out of hours emergency noise service.

Wind Turbine noise is rigorously assessed by Environmental Health at the planning stage to avoid noise problems arising. For more information see Wind Turbine Noise. Enforcement under planning conditions is carried out by Planning Enforcement.

Designing out Noise

Environmental Health is a statutory consultee on planning applications. Planning Officers will consult Environmental Health where there are potential environmental protection matters relevant to an application. By reviewing and making recommendations on planning applications, potential problems can be identified, prevented or managed with effective planning conditions. See Planning Application Consultations for more information.

Animal Noise

Dogs, cockerels, parrots and farm animals have all resulted in noise complaints. In some cases, the council can investigate complaints and intervene.

Aircraft Noise

Local Authorities have no direct means of control over aircraft noise. This page give details of the arrangements for control of aircraft noise.

Noise from Construction Work

The Council can serve a notice imposing requirements as to how construction works should be carried out so as to minimise noise and disturbance.

Burglar Alarms

The Council receives complaints about noise from audible vehicle, house and business alarms. Although alarms may legitimately sound when triggered by intruders, if activated audible alarms are left sounding for a time they can cause considerable annoyance, especially during the night. This explains how the Council deals with audible alarm complaints and provides advice to householders with burglar alarms.

Railway Noise

Railway noise generally comes from routine operations, heavy freight trains and engineering work. The council cannot generally act on routine noise or noise from trains themselves, including heavy freight trains. Network Rail has a legal right to carry out engineering works to maintain the network. Often this is done at night for safety reasons or to minimise disruption for those who rely on the trains. Provided best practice is followed to control noise, the council has no remit to intervene.

Noise from Wind Turbines

As well as being more efficient in the way we use energy, the other way to reduce the amount of Carbon dioxide from power generation is to use 'renewable' technologies. These make use of natural sources of energy and so cannot be used up. Now familiar in West Lothian are wind turbines.