Citizens setting up a Noise Abatement Society

Contributions from The Times readers, justly lamenting and protesting against noise pollution, are becoming a more frequent occurrence. Noise pollution consistently ranks high on the list of citizens' concerns, as like other forms of pollution, it is damaging to human health and therefore should be taken seriously.

Regrettably in our islands many citizens suffer from noise pollution caused by diverse human activities which include loud music by the entertainment industry, prolonged noise pollution by the construction industry which at times carries on to Sundays and public holidays, excessively loud unbridled fireworks starting from as early as 8 a.m., and traffic noise which includes road rage behaviour (honking) in traffic jams particularly in grid-locked urban areas etc.

Yet again, similar to other environmental matters, Malta trails behind in its EU obligations as regards measures to combat noise pollution. Malta's recent failure to submit a "noise map" to the EU commission is a case in point. Furthermore, the authorities very often lend deaf ears to public complaints on noisy nuisances and are conspicuous through their inertia and silence. For example, while in other EU member states every effort is made to reduce noise pollution caused by motor vehicle traffic, in Malta the local authorities turn a blind eye and turn deaf to the common everyday occurrences: excessively noisy vehicles of motorists who alter their vehicles' exhaust systems to accentuate their engines' drone/noise and similarly the loud music invading residents' homes caused by the entertainment industry.

Many also wonder and question why and how the police issue permits for fireworks allowed to start so early and why there are no limits as to the quantity, duration and noise levels of fireworks, whereby as the Maltese phrase kaxxa nfernali literally suggests, hell seems to break loose.

Why the inaction by the authorities against noise pollution? Are the authorities perhaps suggesting that citizens should resort to the law courts to safeguard their health and quality of life from the invading noise pollution?

Do the authorities expect us all to go through and suffer the same ordeal as the Senglea resident who won her court case against the persistent and excessively loud ringing church bells? Is this upgrade of our quality of life promised to us with Malta's membership in the EU?

A number of citizens are in the process of setting up a Noise Abatement Society in the belief that collectively better results can be achieved for a better less noisy environment.

Noisy nuisances do not get solved by themselves but through effective action. Persons interested in this initiative are invited to establish contact via e-mail anna@mara-mediterra.com.