Noise good or bad??

 Caps Bar situated on the main road Tunapuna

At my area of residency, I live in close proximity to the Eastern Main Road where there are a number of bars located. Friday night, when the liming starts, the music is turned up and we are usually tolerable to this loud blast as the music especially ‘Soca” during the Carnival season is quite entertaining. However, regardless of the  enjoyment at times this music brings, when this occurs constantly every weekend there is the creation of some annoyance and irritation. This is where noise becomes a problem.

In Michael Pacione’s Urban Geography text, he defines noise as “unwanted sound that is one of the most ubiquitous pollutants in contemporary urban areas”.  It is difficult to measure as its tolerance levels vary between individuals. Noise has four main effects which he outlines as

• Annoyance or stress which can contribute to psychological problems such as hypertension and neuroses
• Physiological effects such as hearing impairment
• Effects on the job performance
•  Reduces property values

The problem with noise resides in the frequencies, duration and the intensity because not all noise is considered to have negative effects. Some noises can have positive effects such as relaxation for example the sound of waves breaking on the beach or in my case music helps me relax in times of frustration. On the other hand there are noises such as natural or man-made noise which can be tolerated only for short periods of times. But when noise such as those coming from fireworks, bars, fetes, factories, traffic, aircraft and barking dogs  extends this period people undoubtedly suffer from sleeplessness, emotional stress, and also there are  those who suffer more severely from stress, depression and hearing defects.

In my own experience, countless times I have been awaken by loud music coming from events or football matches taking place at the Centre of Excellence. Even during Carnival time every Monday morning it has become tradition for my family and neighbors to be awaken to the loud blast of big trucks passing on the main road for Tunapuna’s jouvert. I often wonder about the elderly persons and even children living in my neighborhood, the fright they must experience when they are awaken by this loud disturbance and also the health hazard that is created along with its duration. It concerns me whether the people hosting these events are aware or even care that there are other people living in the area who are not participating and, in the comfort of their own homes are facing these discomforts.

The irony with noise pollution, is that unlike the types of polluters like air, water and land who requires the pin-pointing of a source to be controlled, noise pollution can be considered the one most easily tackled. Even though it is expected to be easily addressed through the laws implemented by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), its pollution level is viewed as one significantly suffered and it has become more out of control over the last couple years.

Did you know that noise pollution rules have been enforced for many years in Trinidad and Tobago? Like myself I am sure you all had an idea but given our culture and official attitudes, these rules are not taken seriously.

Noise Pollution laws of Trinidad and Tobago 

Recently I was walking to the grocery and next door to Caps Bar I saw little children playing in their yard. It later dawn on me that this  family lived there and this was shocking to me because the distance I live from the bar in comparison to this household is approximately 2minutes walking and the intensity of the music on the weekends keeps me up so what’s to say for them, especially when children are involved. They deal with this on an everyday basis. Therefore, how are we supposed to deal with the effects noise pollution has on us? Or should we just avoid it? When this tolerable stress thus becomes intolerable strain, the household may have to decide on either three courses of action. This includes remaining at their present location and either improving the environment or lower their expectations or they may face the inevitable of having to relocate (Pacione,2009, 204) But is this the answer?

Club Aria- One of the many clubs on Aripita Avenue

Another example is the hotspot Aripita Avenue, which is an entire stretch with bars concentrated on both sides. How are these residents of the Woodbrook supposed to sleep when the level of noise coming from the bars as well as the constant vehicular traffic which in itself creates noise.

For these households their only predicament is to move, or sound proof their homes or parts thereof. Is this fair? I was reading on a blog by TTCAN (TT Citizens Against Noise) and the author refers to the  Marriott business hotel located west of the Audrey Jeffers Highway. In the past, guests have complaint about noise which comes from events at the Hasley Crawford Stadium and so when this occurs they have to be moved or refunded if they can’t be moved when this inconvenience occurs. Blog by TTCAN here

Therefore the only way that this issue can be addressed efficiently is to establish a more rigorous system of monitoring, prompting and enforcing strict penalties when the already well-established laws are breached.

Reference

Michael Pacione. 2009. Urban Geography:A global Perspective Third edition.London and New York: Routeledge.