Hotline for people to make complaints about noise
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
People disturbed by noise may soon have their own hotline through which they may file their complaints as part of an Environment Ministry drive to abate noise pollution.
Tourism and Environment Minister Mario de Marco this afternoon presented a White Paper entitled Neighbourhood Noise Prevention, Abatement and Control for public consultation.
It is intended to spark a discussion about noise pollution and how best to prevent it.
The White Paper was drawn up by head of the Environmental Law Department at University Simone Borg in consultation with various regulatory bodies, authorities and NGOs, particularly the Noise Abatement Society of Malta.
It recommends the setting up of a Noise Control Board, made up of representatives of the various regulatory bodies involved, which will continuously enhance noise regulation in accordance with updated guidelines.
Meanwhile, a 24 hour hotline will be set up to deal with public complaints. Each complaint will be passed on to the responsible authority using a tracking system, to enable accountability and so the public can now where the complaints have reached. This would improve the current situation whereby complainants must try to identify which is the authority responsible for its complaints.
The White Paper proposes a preventive approach to noise pollution, since noise has adverse effects on health and the environment.
Since noise-related laws are spread over various laws and regulations, the White Paper proposes the bringing together of some of these laws to enable better user-friendliness.
It also proposes to introduce objective noise limit values which are based on the guidelines established by the World Health Organisation.
These guidelines will not replace the presently used subjective criteria which refer to noise as nuisance or disturbance but will complement them and render the law more practical and enforceable.
It proposes higher penalties and criminal liability for noise-related offences.
The White Paper can be downloaded from www.tsdu.gov.mt/noise. Questions and suggestions can be emailed to noise.mtce@gov.mt Consultation will close on April 15.
The White Paper may be downloaded from http://www.tsdu.gov.mt/noise
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61 Comments
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francesca paris
Feb 23rd, 12:46
francesca paris
This hot line number is really going to be busy then. I think Malta is one of the noisiest countries. Hope it will be of any good.
Sandra Camilleri
Feb 22nd, 17:26
NICE idea regarding these new regulations. Why all these laws in Malta which are not enforced. Also what about
the noisy cars with these fitted exhast - and motor bikes alike. NO one stops them NOT even the POLICE - when around. These cars disturb the residents in early hours of the morning or during the night.
Nice to see more POLICE on their rounds - residents need the security - ALSO noisy bars in residencial areas
are to be monitored.
E. Azzopardi
Feb 22nd, 08:30
What is the use of this if there is no enforcement, as usual/
Mr Aaron Sammut
Feb 22nd, 12:08
Spot on Mr.Azzopardi.
This will only add insult to injury.
Paceville residents have been suffering for long years as if they were noiseless cockroaches. Nowhere in an advanced society, you walk down the street and be swept off by noises coming out of a club. These residents have been stripped off their right for a good night sleep and have been stripped off their dignity. There is nothing protecting them and god knows how many times they were tempted to take the law into their own hands.
NOW GO AND TELL THEM THAT THERE IS A HOTLINE......IT WILL REALLY HELP!!!!!
John Scerri
Feb 22nd, 07:45
I am very pessimistic this will have no effect and will result in loss of time and money . Why?
Let's put it this way:
If those who dont give a damn about what time of day or night it is and dont give a damn on whether there are elderly persons, new born babies, workers who are resting after a night shift, then this will lead to nowhere.
If there are those who egoistically leave their dogs barking for hours on end on the roofs, in their yards and gardens while they enjoy themselves elsewhere , then this will lead to nowhere.
If the Gas distributor truck goes around nearly every day blowing the huge horn which can be heard from blocks away , at every corner for nearly a whloe 2 hours between 0645hrs and 0900hrs to wake up everyone, then this will lead to nowhere. I will not mention the place but i am sure many know where.
If there are those who do not distinguish between early morning , afternoon from 1300hrs to 1600hrs, Saturday afternoon, even Sundays, Public Holidays, to start their wood working machines, for example, then this will lead to nowhere.
If certain Hotels, groceries, butchers, coldstores, restaurants, confectioners, and all those who have noisy cooling radiators switched on 24/7 in built up areas causing unnecessary hardship for residents, then this will lead to nowhere.
If cars will still be allowed to be fitted with the sport exhaust wide diameter and bicycles allowed to be fitted with the small motors withour a proper silencer , then this will lead to nowhere.
If the fireworks factories are still allowed to produce the huge 'tal BOMBA' that will rattle your house and skull let alone anyone who has taken all night to put one's child to sleep , then this will lead to nowhere.
I can keep going on and on............ The list is never ending dear Dr.Demarco and all the other politicians from both sides of the house.
The idea is very good ...but unfortunately one will not be removing the route cause .
This can only be done by enforcing the laws governing noise pollution.
There is a chronic illness in this country ....
I know what I am talking about because many of us are living among these hazards on a daily basis.
On a final note may I ask
Will there also be a hot line for Pigeon dropping pollution in built up areas , for destroying car paintwork, laundry, building facades??
Alfred Grech
Feb 22nd, 11:50
Minister Mario De Marco has no jurisdiction over pigeons - they are independent creatures.
John Scerri
Feb 22nd, 12:08
Dear Alfred... so right you are ...thanks
I rephrase and change to ' Will there be a hot line to report pigeon owners to make good for any damages done by their pigeons' droppings ?'
Alfred Grech
Feb 22nd, 02:40
iIt's a great initiative but the minister has to make sure that complaints are attended to and charges made accordingly.
william cauchi
Feb 21st, 23:05
White Paper....... neighbourhood noise prevention........ abatement........responsible authority.......tracking system.........accountability. So many nice words.
Anybody wants to bet that within a few weeks everybody would have forgotten about this new project, will have had enough of reporting complaints and nothing has been done.
The nicest words were ''try to identify which is the authority responsible for its complaints''. Even when the authority responsible has been identified, zilch was done.
Peter Shaw
Feb 21st, 22:26
Sounds (pun intended) like an election is near !!!
Joe Fenech
Feb 21st, 22:13
If I'm there during summer, I will make sure I'll keep phoning in when the village bands burn their fireworks for 2 weeks.
Joe Fenech
Feb 21st, 21:45
This is a gimmick but it does not do what is really needed to solve the issue.
Joe Scerri
Feb 21st, 21:27
All very nice, but as I always say unless laws are properly enforced then all is a waste of time.
Louis Craus
Feb 21st, 21:25
Hafna ligijiet ghal xejn jew biex indahhqu n-nies bina.
Suppost hadd ma jpejjep f,postijiet pubblici, hadd ma jista jixrob u jsuq, ma tistax tirrispondi mobile u ssuq, hadd ma jista jaghmel BBQ fuq ir-ramel fejn il-bahar, ma tistax thalli klieb ihammgu barra, ma tistax tuza basktijiet tal-plastic, daqq ta' muzika gholja f'certi hinijiet, suppost tinghata rcevuta ma kull oggett li tixtri, ma jistghux jisparaw murtali wara certi hinijiet , suppost tibni cint ta' seba' filati gebel madwar binja mhux mibnija, u miljun ligijiet kollha ta' xejn. Pajjiz tal- Mickey Mouse.
Joe Fenech
Feb 23rd, 22:14
Spot on !
Francis Attard
Feb 21st, 21:13
Dawn l'affarijiet huma kollha "Bzar Fl-ghajnejn".
Franco Farrugia
Feb 22nd, 08:39
Allahares kulhadd kellu jirraguna bhalek, ghax xejn ma jsir!
Francis Attard
Feb 22nd, 15:14
L-esperjenza ghalmitni Sur Farrugia illi jekk xi hadd jirraporta xi ksur ta' xi ligi, jittiehdu passi biss kontra dawk li ma jkunux tal-qalba. U nassigurak li naf x'qieghed nghid.
Joseph N. Attard
Feb 21st, 20:22
Will I be able to ring at 4 or 5am to report excessive noise from the night club at ta' Qali? But, if no action has been taken by any authority these last decades after thousands of complaints by the people of Attard, do I really expect that someone will do something now? I'll believe it when I see it.
J Portelli
Feb 21st, 20:19
Why dont you start with the quad bikes and loud souped up cars and motorcycles in Gozo.
Billie Watson
Feb 21st, 23:01
Oh right i see you chaps got the same problem too with some silly kiddo riding a quad, making it noisey enough that even the people in Malta can hear of his coming. Read my lips if you can Mr.DeMarco WHERE ARE YOUR POLICE WHEN YOU NEED THEM? why don't the locals report such nutters, what happens if one of these morons happens to run over a little girl or boy going to school or with a bit of luck overturns and hit your solid built walls (if only)? any answeres someone? No i thought so. Gozo is suppose to be the sleeping calypso island -peace and tranquility, i think somehow the printed holiday brochures should be amended with a more realisty discription of the little island, as some locals have woken it up good and proper
Mr Mario Farrugia
Feb 21st, 20:14
The initiative is good but we need the law to support it. Reporting noise levels is easy. Am sure that GO, Melita and the other telephone providers will make a few extra euros. Industrial zones adjacent to residential areas should be the starting point. A ready mix company situated in Targa Gap Mosta creates both noise and dust pollution, with operations starting just after 5 in the morning on most days. No need of an alarm clock for those wanting to go to the 6am mass!
Ivan Calleja
Feb 21st, 20:01
The hotline will be probably jammed with calls!!!
Joe Fenech
Feb 21st, 19:26
What? Are the people going to be policing the country? It is for the authrotieis to monitor noise. But what really needs to be done is to make sure that commercial venues are well sound-proofed.
Kenneth Cassar
Feb 22nd, 07:01
The police can't be everywhere.
Joe Fenech
Feb 22nd, 19:00
Kenneth:
But if it's noise due to lack of sound proofing, then that's for the authorities to check.
Joe Morana
Feb 21st, 18:57
Definately a signifcant step in the right direction. It is an opportunity for citizens/residents to contribute through meanigful proposals towards a less noisy, healthy and sustainable environment. Well done to all who contributed towards this White Paper.
Robert Agius
Feb 21st, 18:51
What!! finally stopping the construction industry? ...wishful thinking.
j brincat
Feb 21st, 18:47
What if you happen to live in Bizebbugia and its environ?
What is to be done about the continued noise there?
Or is this just another smoke screen?
(jb)
Joe Fenech
Feb 21st, 18:39
You might get 400, 000 calls everyday then
B Attard
Feb 21st, 18:37
Very good idea. will there also be a hotline for air pollution?
Darby Allen
Feb 21st, 18:34
"People disturbed by noise MAY SOON have their own hotline ..."
Don't hold your breath!
O. Grixti
Feb 21st, 18:14
Can I complain about the people renting the flat above my own flat? Or I should just report to the owner and than to the police directly?
The comment about church bells in the evening is a good suggestion to make them stop.
Another thing is car speeding in town main roads during the evening.
john vella
Feb 21st, 18:10
Whatever the reason for this matter to be forwarded to the public attention, it is well and proper to record this statement by the minister. I must say a bit late in this term of governance.
In my case and in my area noise that lasted till the early hours of the morning seem to have been controlled.
Allow me to give praise to the Local Zebbug Police; Police Board, Rabat; and the Discos concerned.
W Cassar
Feb 21st, 18:10
Good, those kids who use the garage underneath me as a motorsport club.... revving their engines over and over as if their foot is stuck, have their days numbered!!!
About time!
R Axisa
Feb 21st, 17:56
Nispera li ma jigrix bhal tal-sms li tibghat ghall-vetturi li jdahhnu!
emanuel busuttil
Feb 21st, 17:44
noise pollution indeed, we live just below the st pauls bay bypass and come Sunday morning the noise from motor cycles is nothing short of being at a racetrack! some may complain about the gas man blowing his horn well that's acceptable few minuets and its over if he does'nt blow his horn one has to stay on doorstep waiting and what about barking dogs on balconies? grin and bear it i guess or one will make enemies of his neighbours, all in all nothing will ever be done not unless fines are issued
Ms Margaret Williams
Feb 21st, 18:21
Thats nothing compared with the noise we practically get everyday from some Gozitan youngsters riding their hotted up quad around the Qala district area and as far down ar ta Horroq bay ( hope i spelt it correctly) is a like a blooming fly path worst then heathrowe airport with the noise these IDIOTS make with their bikes, also very dangerous if kiddies happen to cross a road from a blind corner. Where are your police officers when they are needed, nowhere to be seen, only wardens plastering tickets on our foreign and k reg cars.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:-
Disgusting to say the least, had we known beforehand that Gozo is not what its made out to be a peaceful island we would not have invested in a large framhouse in the first place, unfortunitly its very difficult to find buyers as its easy to buy but blooming hard to re- sell A whinger from the UK, but this time we have caused to complain.
Manwel Debattista
Feb 21st, 17:44
At face value it sounds good, maybe too good and that's what's worrying me. For years the Government has stood idle while thousands of people have suffered because of noise pollution. How can I trust these same people with protection from noise pollution which day-in-day-out has become the norm in Paceville, a way of life with the blessing of those with power?
Billie Watson
Feb 21st, 19:30
Ms.Margaret Williams i applaud you for speaking out, the locals tend to be noisey yes i agree 100%, but on top of all their big gaub they just haven't got the courage to speak out as you did. well done my girl, same as anthing else in this country they just leave it up to us foreigners to get the ball rolling. Well done also to the minister in question you have our support.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 21st, 17:40
I hope they have plenty of operators to take the calls!
J Busuttil
Feb 21st, 18:15
@Tony Gatt
If they are sarcastic and negative as you are we will need plenty of operators.
R. Balzan
Feb 21st, 17:40
Rather than asking people to report, the minister should make sure that the police take the necessary action if there is a clear breach of the regulations. Or better still give back enforcement of all traffic regulations to the police force and then make our much-malingned traffic wardens responsible for monitoring our environment laws (cleanliness, dumping of material AND noise pollution). And please start from the Lija/Balzan/Attard locality where, for many many years, we have been rudely waken up at 7.00 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays by the gas distributor blowing his illegal, ear-splitting, air-horn to announce his arrival.
Joe Grech
Feb 21st, 17:39
Is an election coming up?
Patrick Zammit
Feb 21st, 17:55
The GonziPN is playing safe...
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 21st, 17:32
Good iniciative.
What bothers me from the early hours of the morning is the repeated use of air horns used by truck sellers from minerals, gas, bread and others. They have the bad habit of sounding these horns from one corner of the street to the other in every street they go through.
Victor Rodenas
Feb 21st, 18:02
As far as I know air horns are illegal.......
Claire Bezzina
Feb 21st, 17:32
i hope that something is done about church bells. such an unnessacary noise, especially at night. please do something about them
Daniel Vella
Feb 21st, 17:30
You want to reduce noise pollution?..... start by obliging building contractors to use silenced jackhammers. And once you are at it also ask arrive to do something about its buses. I live in a road which was considered quite quiet until some weeks ago, until arriva buses started servicing a new route passing through the road where i live. Nowadays its as if I am living near a subway rail with arriva buses passing every 45 minutes - I don't even look at the watch any longer as i can time my day with the bus coincidence.
ALBERT FENECH
Feb 21st, 17:28
This is positive news, as long as it's not just the normal spin and cosmetics, the "looks good but nothing actually happens factor". To make the anti-noise policy effective, the "hotline" will need a minimum of at least 100 operators working 24/7, 365 days a year (and 366 in leap years). And - who is going to follow up the volume of complaints? The population of these islands is already hyper-tensed and the continual volume of uncontrollable noise from every possible sector and angle has contributed vastly to making these islands amongst the most neurotic in the world.
ALBERT FENECH
george attard
Feb 21st, 17:26
well maybe after complaining to the local council about the use of Air Horns ( gas distributors please note ) which are illegal to use i can now also phone..
is this more time wasting or real........................................
Karl Consiglio
Feb 21st, 17:23
Can I complain about petards/fireworks in Summer??
M. Degiorgio
Feb 21st, 17:40
can i complain about you complaining.. .. ..
William Calleja
Feb 21st, 17:54
A big yes to the both of you courtesy of living in a free country.
M. Degiorgio
Feb 21st, 19:04
@ Mr. Calleja.. .. .. that's my point. Sir.
Karl Consiglio
Feb 21st, 19:15
@M. Degiorgio
Well If you think I make noise while doing so, then yes.
Karl Consiglio
Feb 21st, 17:22
Good for Paceville residents.
Peter Seebohm
Feb 21st, 17:16
OMG
they will need 10 agents just for Paceville, 24 hours the day :-)
Honestly, when i pass I am going to feel bad. The loudness is insane.
Never ever I´ll understand how it is possible to feel well, sitting outside, if you hear loudest music from about 6 bars or so. In same time.
In same time.
Joe Portelli
Feb 21st, 17:08
This can only be good news and certainly long time in coming ...........
Franco Farrugia
Feb 21st, 17:06
Ehem.... it's 17.05 ... and 'page not found'. Sorry.
joseph mifsud
Feb 21st, 17:00
tidher li riesqa l-ellezzjoni.