Prior to the critique of the report it will be worth mentioning the below points:

1.  Increase in noise in the area due to new formats of cricket that have been introduced the past few seasons 20/20 Domestic and International Matches.  Also, Pro 40 Floodlit games.  All of these go into the evenings and as residents none of us have been notified.

2.  Current unnecessary use of the Public Address System.  Testing often starts 3 hours before matches.  Reference also on Friday 27th July all day we had to put up with constant PA system when there was only a handful of kids playing cricket.  I was working at home all day and it was really annoying.  Why couldn't they have just sectioned off part of the PA as the ground was completely empty.

3.  Drunken swearing and foul language after full capacity matches. 

I can't think of anymore now but do add in areas of current noise….

Document title:  "Noise Assessment for a Proposed Redevelopment of the Pavilion End of The Brit oval Cricket Ground"  (Sharps Redmore Partnership)

 

1.  Anomaly between measurement locations and actual current noise.  Executive Summary (p3)  The report is flawed as there is no relationship between where the noise was measured (Measurement Location 1) from and the actual noise currently experienced for residents in Lohmann House.  The report states that:

"The existing ambient noise level (predominantly from traffic noise in the area) is relatively high.  Measurements have been taken to allow an estimate to be made of the existing noise at the nearest noise sensitive premises….It has been found that noise from the proposal will not have a significant detrimental effect on the amenity of nearby noise sensitive premises."

For residents in Lohmann House we do not experience noise from Harleyford Street due to the angle of Kennington Oval.  Noise Measurement Location 1 is situated about half way along Lockwood House where you can distinctly here the noise of the traffic on Harleyford Street.  On the 30th July a local resident stood by Noise Measurement 1 and could hear the traffic, when you walk about 20 yards away from this road you cannot here the traffic.  The report, therefore, does not take into account the quiet ambience that Lohmann House residents currently enjoy and assumes that all residents suffer from "traffic noise…relatively high."  This is definitely not the case, and the report must be seen as invalid due to this anomaly.

2.   Anomaly between measurement locations and delivery areas.  Executive Summary (p3).  We do not agree with the following as it is flawed due to the large distance from the nearest Measurement Location 1 and the two delivery areas proposed on Kennington Oval.  These are 1) Hotel Deliveries and 2) Recycling and Beer Deliveries.  Both of these will have a considerable negative effect on noise pollution. 

"The existing ambient noise level (predominantly from traffic noise in the area) is relatively high.  Measurements have been taken to allow an estimate to be made of the existing noise at the nearest noise sensitive premises….It has been found that noise from the proposal will not have a significant detrimental effect on the amenity of nearby noise sensitive premises."

The Hotel Deliveries area is approximately 54 yards and the Recycling and Beer Deliveries is approx. 70 yards from the nearest Noise Measurement Location.  Both of these will add significant "new noise" to Kennington Oval, and in turn to residents of Lohmann House as they currently enjoy very low noise pollution from Harleyford Street.  The  Recycling and Beer Deliveries area will be used for "compactor use, bottle bank use, waste pick up and drop off" …"  These are always very noisy, no matter what type of dwelling they are situated in.

This is flawed due to the anomaly as to where the noise was measured (relatively high traffic noise) and the proposed delivery entrances which are currently in quiet zones.

As the report clearly states later (p 11).

"Noise impact from the development could arise from a number of sources:

• Noise from vehicles delivering to and servicing the site and associated activities in the external servicing areas."

Furthermore, in 4.3 (p11) it states.

"The impact of each of the above sources is considered at the nearest noise sensitive premises, being flats opposite in Lockwood House and Lohmann House."

Again, why was the noise measurements not located anywhere near where vehicles will be delivering to the hotel? 

Furthermore, in 4.6 it states.

"The nearest noise sensitive premises are the flats opposite in Lohmann House"  So why not measure the current noise from there?

So the report now admits that the Lohmann House is the nearest noise sensitive premises, however, we are going to be saved from this unnecessary noise by

"a 4.5 metre high fence or wall which provide an effective acoustic barrier to prevent excessive noise egress"  How many fences exist which prevent noise!?  If it's a wall, how much noise is stopped by a wall?

3.  Methodology and relationship to plans.  In 1.4 it states that the methodology was discussed and agreed with the Borough of Lambeth Environmental Health Department.  When the Measurement Location's were set up was there an appreciation of the two delivery areas which are approximately 54 yards and 70 yards away from where the nearest Noise Measurement Location was situated?

4.  Noise measurement times.  Survey details (p9).  Noise was measured at Location 2 only for a small amount of time "between 0550 and 0710 on 5th April 2007".  Why was the noise only measured for 80 mins. in the early part of the day?  According to the plans, Noise Measurement Location 2 will be where the Reception and Taxi dropping off area will be.   Measuring the noise at this time of day has no relevance to normal times of activity in London.  By not measuring in the normal hours of day, how can this be an accurate and acceptable measure of actual noise in the area?

5.  Noise measurement calculations and WHO guidelines (as stated on page on pages 7 & 16)

When considering these, refer to above about anomalies between Noise Measurement Locations and proposed delivery areas A & B).

The worst day time hour is 53dB and the WHO guidelines are 50-55dB.  Daytimes, will therefore be on the WHO limit even though there are anomalies in between where the Noise Measurement Locations are and the proposed delivery areas. 

Furthermore it states that "It can be seen that worst case scenario noise levels will be within guideline values with the exception that the night time Lamax will be exceeded by small margin due to operations on site".

So it admits that it is going to break WHO guidelines.

The rest of the measures are at the maximum underneath WHO guidelines.

Already we have considered the inaccuracies of the reports current noise levels at Lohmann House and the Noise Measurement Location.  We as residents have measured this and above have outlined how flawed this.  The report, however, continues.

"Although the highest predicted LAmax value at the worst position in Lohmann House during the most sensitive hour of the day is slightly above the guideline values, the existing noise climate is already higher by a considerable margin.  The predicted levels are well below the existing noise levels."

Residents of Lohmann House, however, currently enjoy quiet and no noise from Harleyford Street.  So why does the report refer again to the fact that "the existing noise climate is already higher [LAmax value] by a considerable margin."  It's not we live here and we know.

  7.  Conclusion and final references to anomalies

The conclusion states that.

"Comprehensive acoustic surveys have been carried out to determine the existing noise climate adjacent to the nearest noise sensitive premises"

This is in accurate, as finally, the Noise Measurement Locations have been taken from areas that are currently noisy due to Harleyford Street traffic and are up to 70 yards away from a currently quiet area, which will be subjected to two proposed delivery areas.

"The majority of noise generated by the site use is predicted to have a negligible impact and will be below levels that are considered to represent the threshold beneath which noise is considered unlikely to be a problem…..Although some of the guideline values are predicted to be exceeded at this time by a small amount…"

"...unlikely to be a problem", however, it will break WHO guidelines in some cases as stated in the report.  Other times are at the maximum as allowed by the WHO guidelines.

"the existing noise levels in the area (due to road traffic noise, in particular from Harleyford Street) must also be considered.  It is unlikely that the predicted noise from deliveries would be perceptible."

Finally, we DO NOT experience road traffic noise problems in Lohmann House from Harleyford Street.