Quiet Cities

Gloria Elliott Chief ExecutiveNoise Abatement Society

26 November 2014

Quiet Cities

Noise Abatement Society

• Founded in 1959• Lobbied the first UK noise legislation through Parliament

in 1960• Member of the British Standards Institute• Member of ISO TC43 Working Group 54 Soundscape• First Soundscape standard published September 2014

Quiet Cities

Which noise annoys?

• Personal response• Noise is perceived in context• Control is key

Quiet Cities

Noise and Health

WHO research:‘At least one million healthy life years are lost every year from traffic-related noise in the western part of Europe’.

European Federation for Transport and Environment research found that in the EU stress related noise is linked to:• 50,000 fatal heart attacks per year• 200,000 cases of cardio vascular disease per year

Quiet Cities

Residents living in close proximity to convenience stores are constantly vulnerable to unexpected peak noise

Staff are also exposed to peak noise

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NAS Silent Approach™a collaborative initiative to enable quiet retimeddeliveries

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Collaboration is key to understanding each other’s problems:

• Logistics mission to fill shelves on time and cut costs• Local authority responsibility to enforce noise law• City centre congestion and compromised safety• Residents disturbed by noise

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Each site will need a different set of solutions• Acoustic curtain for docking bay• Low noise electric shutters • Rubber coating on metal floor surfaces• Low noise yard surfacing, and acoustic fencing• Advanced clearance of waste bins, roll cages, etc. in the docking area

to facilitate swift manoeuvrability of vehicles• Early warning system of vehicle arrival so the gate may be opened in

advance• Providing power points for refrigeration at docking area• Thoughtful positioning of lighting to avoid light nuisance• Regular maintenance of all equipment• Regular staff awareness training and incentives

Quiet Cities

Store benefits• Annual saving of 25,480 litres of fuel• Lorry journey times reduced by 60 mins • Annual driver hours saving 700 hours• Turn-around time reduced by approx 35 mins• Significant Increase in turnover• Availability up by 0.6%• Waste reduced• No / reduced parking fines • Employee noise protection improved• Good relationship with local authority and neighbours• More pleasant working environment• Good customer relationship

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Environmental benefits• Fuel consumption reduced• CO2 and particulate emissions reduced• Traffic congestion eased• Noise pollution reduced by day as well as at night• Constant public protection and instant redress if noise problems occur• Safety improved• More efficient distribution of goods and perishable products• Less waste of fresh goods, reducing waste disposal costs

and land fill requirements

Quiet Cities

Trials of the quiet delivery process

• 2007 NAS Silent Approach™ initiative: first successful night time trial with Sainsbury’s and Wandsworth Council

• 2010 Quiet Delivery Demonstration Scheme: DfT/NAS/FTA• 2012 London 2012 retiming trials: TfL/NAS• 2014 London Retiming Trials: TfL/NAS

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• Change in consumer purchasing habits to little and often

• Expansion of convenience stores on the high street and home deliveries

• Rise in delivery journeys

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• Urban problems are everyone’s responsibility

• All stakeholders need to take a step into the middle

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• Encourage manufacturing of quiet delivery solutions • Underline the business case to retailers to ensure

investment is made • Share solution knowledge between local authority

planning and environmental health departments• Achieve quiet efficient deliveries that do not disturb,

whether by day or by night

Quiet Cities

Thank you

Gloria Elliott Chief Executive, Noise Abatement Societygloria.elliott@noise-abatement.org