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WEE | letters | Peter Cave, Meard St W1 | Soho | Thames Water | Wardour Street | Traffic
Sunday, noisy Sunday, it could affect our health
• IT is Sunday, early afternoon, in Meard Street, a residential street, well-known in Soho.
An hour ago, a lorry trundled along; out leaped men.
After a clattering few minutes, the street was blasted by horrendous noise from drilling, stone-cutting and other mechanical activities that only experts know the names of.
This aim seems to be the replacement of a Thames Water frame at the Wardour / Meard / Peter Street junction.
A couple of hours earlier, a different lorry had trundled along, men had leaped out (different men, I assume) and, after a clattering few minutes, the street was blasted by horrendous noise as some work was done to nearby pavement coverings.
Earlier still, yet another lorry had trundled along, about 9am, men had etcetera – with some noisy work resulting a few yards away, on a Peter Street pavement.
Now, all this work was, I understand, approved.
Yet the work was not emergency work, but scheduled work.
I hasten to comment that it did not prevent Wardour Street traffic flow.
I say this before the “traffic-flow” excuse is given a run for its money.
So, as I try – but fail of course – to block out the noise with ear-plugs, headphones, and closed windows (causing aches in the head, and the ears, but not the windows), and as I count down the remaining number of heartbeats left to me, would someone explain why such noisy work is authorised, seemingly so casually, on a Sunday, the only day of the week when there is at least a chance of some quiet?
Such works frequently happen - and frequently on that corner. Or has the council not heard of how noise affects health and lifespan?
Of course, that such noise causes distress, increasing likelihood of heart disease and early death, at least has the advantage of reducing the length of time I and others are likely to suffer.
Arguably, though, the authorities should seek to improve health and quality of life – if only because, one day, presumably there will be successful court cases fought, holding some body negligent in this regard.
Before that lis dismissed as fantasy, we should reflect on how years ago few people anticipated the successful claims now made against authorities for their health and safety failures.
Of course, I recognise, though, that the individuals responsible for ignoring this matter will doubtless have moved on by the time of such court cases – and may themselves end up suffering noisy Sundays.
Being human, sadly so, one can but hope.
Peter Cave
Meard Street, W1
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