Noise and vibration from road traffic
Noise or vibration from road traffic is not subject to the same statutory controls as other sources of noise for example, commercial activities or noisy neighbours.
The police have powers to enforce the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, which relates to noise from exhaust systems and silencers, and a general requirement prohibiting the use of a vehicle on a road in such a manner as to cause excessive noise which could have been avoided by reasonable care.
There are two types of roads within the borough, the main trunk roads (A40, A406, A312, A408) are the Transport for London’s (TfL) responsibility. The other roads that form the majority of residential roads in the borough, are the Council’s responsibility. Complaints about noise/vibration from a defective road surface along a TfL road should be referred to TfL.
If you would like to make a complaint about a road for which the
council is reponsible you must first report it to the
council’s highways structures engineer. This
matter will be investigated and referred to the environmental
quality team to request vibration monitoring. Measurements will be
taken inside the property and compared to recommended limits that
have been shown to cause structural damage.