I write in support of those raising concerns about current – and particularly weekend - traffic noise levels in Rye.
My wife and I were fortunate when retiring to Rye two years ago to arrive with normal hearing – despite in my case having largely spent my working life in professional audio environments (recording studio, film dubbing and mixing facilities etc.). My hearing was preserved largely because I wore ear-defenders when obliged to work in dangerous noise environments.
Traffic noise in the streets of the town makes me wish to reclaim my ear defenders.
In particular the noise from motor-cycles which have been modified to exceed their manufacturers’ exhaust noise specifications and are often ridden in a manner that deliberately emphasizes the noise footprint.
Ironically the danger to riders’ hearing is less than to pedestrians, owing to the high-frequency hearing protection afforded by the obligatory wearing of crash helmets.
As most of us know to our cost, ubiquitous roadside and robotic speed recording and parking zone control technology photographically records us when we infringe regulations, automatically identifies us and issues penalties.
Similar roadside technology exists which can automatically measure the noise level of passing traffic. When noise nuisance exceeds levels permitted by statute, a photo of the registration mark can be taken and passed to the authorities.
It is surely time for Rye to warn that this technology will be installed and then to action it without delay!
