Hello mi neighbour! | Are there rules for noise that disturbs the peace?

Hello mi neighbour!

My friend is not well and is being forced to suffer the inconvenience of loud noise from an excavator being used to remove stones from a lot near to her residence. Developers are getting ready to erect a wall for a set of townhouses to be built in the area in short order. But wait! Notice the whole heap of high-rise buildings rising up all over the place? Just an observation …

My friend says the excavator noise has been disturbing her for over three weeks and she would like to be compensated for the grossly debilitating inconvenience. Can you detect the tears in her voice? Remember she is not well. Put yourself in her shoes!

She would like to be relocated (at no cost to her) for the rest of the time the excavator will be disturbing the residents. She says the 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday noise has been destabilising her brain, the dust has been affecting her eyes, and these force her to keep windows and doors closed during the daytime. Without the use of an AC, the summer heat is “killing me”, she says. Wooooii!

While housing development is a normal part of the human experience and also a sign of progress worldwide, aren’t there rules to guide the process, ensuring the well-being of earth’s dwellers? Oh yesss! Do your research.

SPECIFIC RESTRICTIONS

So I did a little research to determine the rules concerning noise that disturbs the peace of others. The Noise Abatement Act in Jamaica was designed to protect citizens from excessive noise that disrupts peace and quiet. This regulates noise levels from amplified sound and other specified equipment, particularly during nighttime hours. The act outlines specific restrictions on noise levels and operating times for public meetings, political gatherings, and entertainment events. Violations can result in fines, and in some cases, imprisonment.

The act aims to prevent noise pollution that can negatively impact the well-being of residents and their quality of life. It covers noise from amplified sound systems, loudspeakers, and other devices used in public and private spaces. Of course this would include noisy daytime excavations! The act restricts the operation of specified equipment, particularly at night, and requires permits for certain events that generate noise.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force enforces the act, and individuals can report violations. And listen to this: violations can lead to fines, and for repeat offences, imprisonment.

The act also states that event organisers often need to obtain permits from the police for events that may generate significant noise. The act specifies that entertainment events should end at midnight on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends. Heard that? The act includes provisions for specific locations like hospitals and nursing homes, where noise levels are more strictly controlled.

So here is the big question friends and foes may be asking: How can stony terrains for housing development in populated areas be excavated without disturbing noise? AI suggests some strategies:

· Utilise equipment with noise-reducing features such as silent generators or noise-attenuating rock breakers.

· Use temporary sound barriers or acoustic screens to block noise from the excavation site.

· Continuously monitor noise levels and adjust the excavation process as needed to minimise disturbance.

· Use hydraulic rock splitters, which can be quieter than traditional rock-breaking methods.

· Consider diamond wire sawing, a quieter and more precise method for cutting through rock.

· Use non-explosive demolition agents, which can be a quieter alternative to traditional explosives.

· Inform nearby residents about the excavation plan, schedule, and noise-management strategies.

· Keep the community informed about the progress and any change to the excavation plan.

· Respond promptly to concerns and complaints from nearby residents.

By implementing these strategies, disruptive noise during excavation in populated areas can be a thing of the past Please, let’s think about our neighbours and ‘do unto them’ that which we would want them to ‘do unto us’.

KINDLY HELP A NEIGHBOUR WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. Stove

2. Refrigerator

3. Bed

4. Food

5. Help with medication

6. Financial assistance to start a little business

To help, please call Silton Townsend @ 876 649-9636 or deposit in acct #351 044 276 NCB. Alternatively, send donations to Hello Neighbour C/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10; PayPal/credit card: email: zicron22@yahoo.com. Contact email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com. Visit hellomineighbourja.blogspot.com. Townsend exclusively manages the collections and distributions mentioned in this column and is neither an employee nor agent of The Gleaner.