The Ombudsman’s Office is probing the control of neighbourhood noise following a recent EU report showing Malta was one of the noisiest places to live in Europe.
Noisy areas reach around 90 per cent of the country compared to some 50 per cent in most other member states, according to the report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) published last January.
In Europe, harmful levels of noise affect one in four but Malta is considered to be one of the most extreme cases. The health risks from such noise range from sleepless nights to heart disease.
Investigations being conducted by Environment and Planning Commissioner David Pace show the existing situation gives rise to concern, the Ombudsman’s Office told The Sunday Times of Malta.
In June 2002, the European Parliament and Council adopted the Environmental Noise Directive, which obliges member states to monitor the problem and draw up “strategic noise maps” to assess the number of annoyed and sleep-disturbed people.
Member states are also required to inform and consult the public about noise exposure, its effects, and the measures considered to address noise, in line with the principles of the Aarhus Convention.
Yet due to the proposed Mepa de-merger, the authority has ceased to invest in further capacity building and is short of qualified staff, which has led to a halt of the sound mapping process, the Ombudsman’s Office said.
In addition, the transmission of data to the EU that Malta is obliged to provide is lagging behind schedule. The Ombudsman’s office also noted the law that had established a capping to maximum levels of allowable noise has been repealed.
“Despite the lack of alternative legislative controls for the past years, the lack of action is contributing to the degradation of the quality of life,” Mr Pace said.
Noise levels above the EU’s threshold for assessment and action, 55 decibels, are linked to adverse health effects, according to the EEA. Environmental noise is linked to 43,000 hospital admissions, 900,000 cases of hypertension and up to 10,000 premature deaths per year in Europe.
Road traffic is the main source of noise in Europe, the report said, followed by railways, airports and industry.
The noise pollution from road traffic is an issue the Noise Abatement Society of Malta has repeatedly raised.
“The lack of commitment from the authorities is increasing the risks to the public due to the uncontrolled air and noise pollution from the ever-increasing traffic on our roads,” said spokesman John Fenech.
Noise pollution is widely present not only in the busiest urban environments, but also in areas considered as natural environments. The share of quiet areas inside Natura 2000 sites is higher compared to the other areas in EU countries. But in Malta, these protected sites are also not free from the cacophony.
Importantly, the EEA recommends noise considerations to be incorporated into planning and building new infrastructure – something local environmental organisations have long been arguing. It also recommends quiet areas should be protected.
The World Health Organisation also says that noise is an underestimated threat.