Statement of Licensing Policy (2008) WCC - Westminster City Council

122Appendix 11. Guidance on noise1. The council regards the control of noise as an essential aspect of goodneighbourliness, contributing to the sustainability of residential and commercialcommunities.Noise sources2. Applicants should consider the potential sources of noise and the hours when it maybe generated. The Licensing Authority’s noise criteria relate to all these sources ofnoise whether indoors or in the open air, including:a) music and human voices, both amplifi ed and unamplifi edb) other internal activitiesc) use of open areasd) patrons queuinge) patrons and staff entering and leaving the premises and in its vicinityf) vehicles arriving, waiting, parking and departingg) deliveries and collections including refuse and collection of recyclable materialsh) plant, machinery and associated equipmenti) any other factors that could cause noise disturbance.3. Many licensed activities can cause noise that is heard outside the premises ororiginates from an open air site and some of these risk generating noise that causespublic nuisance. The risk assessment carried out for licence applications for suchactivities, should take account of the criteria and guidance on noise set out belowwhich indicates circumstances in which a noise report will be necessary and what itshould contain.4. On the other hand, some licensed activities will generate noise at such low levels thatthey are unlikely to cause public nuisance. The list of criteria below should be used todetermine whether it is likely that a full noise report will be required.Information on noise5. All applicants must provide a statement demonstrating how they do or do not complywith the following criteria. A noise report will not usually be required where all thefollowing criteria are met.a) There have been no Noise Abatement Notices (Section 80 of the EnvironmentalProtection Act 1990) served in relation to the premises within the two years prior tothis application.