Noise in village 'now a threat to human health"

Traffic noise in Julianstown poses a serious threat to human health, according to the Julianstown Residents" Association, which has accused Meath County Council of being in breach of its legal obligations under new legislation aimed at reducing and preventing the harmful effects of traffic noise. Spokesman Fred Logue said that the group had seen noise maps prepared by the council that show that noise levels in Julianstown are 'off the scale" and are detrimental to human health. He added that the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) was offering to buy out houses affected by aircraft noise in the vicinity of the airport that was four times lower than that in Julianstown. The residents" association pointed out that, under new regulations introduced in 2006, Meath County Council now has a legal obligation to prevent, reduce or eliminate the harmful effects of traffic noise from busy roads. They further pointed out that the council must prepare noise maps for roads which carry in excess of six million vehicles per year and should then have prepared action plans aimed at reducing and eliminating harmful effects of noise by a deadline of last week. The council are also obliged to make all the information available to the public using the internet, he said. Julianstown was included in the noise mapping project because the R132, which passes through the centre of the village, carries a staggering 7.5 million vehicles per year. Noise maps were completed in January but have yet to be published. 'We have written to the council twice in the last week to ask them about progress on the noise action plan and also to find out where information may be accessed by members of the public. While we understand there is some progress, the council has been unable to tell us how they have fulfilled their obligation to make information available to the public,' Mr Logue said. 'For 30 years, we have been pointing out the serious traffic problems in Julianstown, where traffic exceeds motorway volumes. We have constantly been dismissed and arrogantly stonewalled by the council. But now Meath County Council"s own study shows that there is a serious threat to human health in Julianstown due to traffic noise and they are legally obliged to take action,' he claimed. 'This is a serious matter for Julianstown residents and the failure by the council to carry out its basic obligations under the law is of concern but not a surprise since it is indicative of a pattern of neglect of Julianstown by the local authority,' he added. Mr Logue said they would be monitoring progress closely and, if action wasn"t taken, they would be making a complaint to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the European Commission. A spokesperson for Meath County Council said the council noted the concerns of residents of the county in relation to traffic noise and added that the council had been preparing an action plan. He said a presentation was made to the council on the obligations imposed on the local authority by the Noise Regulations 2006 at a recent meeting and a draft action plan was currently being finalised and would be placed on public display shortly. 'This will allow members of the public throughout the county to make submissions and any submissions received will be fully considered in the course of preparation of the final Noise Action Plan which will be submitted to the EPA as required,' the spokesperson said. He said the council was working closely with the EPA in finalising the draft plan and refuted any suggestion that the council was in breach of its duties under the regulations. He said the guidelines accompanying the regulations required a draft plan to be put on display this month and the submission of a final plan by 31st October. He said the council was working to meet both deadlines.