Westminster Open Spaces Noise Study 2008 Final Report

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Westminster Open Spaces NoiseStudy 2008: Final ReportAPPENDIX D: DETAILS OF MEASUREMENT SITES.................................................................. 74APPENDIX E: WEIGHTED SCORING WITHIN TYPOLOGIES: ................................................... 75APPENDIX F: TRANQUILLITY CAPTURE FORM........................................................................ 82APPENDIX G: SAMPLE BLANK ASSESSMENT TABLE ............................................................ 90APPENDIX H: DETAILED ASSESSMENT SHEET ....................................................................... 92D121316/R1/02Scott Wilson LtdMarch 2009
Westminster Open Spaces NoiseStudy 2008: Final ReportExecutive SummaryScott Wilson has been commissioned by Westminster City Council (WCC) to undertake aninnovative tranquillity survey of twenty open spaces within the City of Westminster. A questionnaireapproach was developed for the purpose of assessing the many elements of relative tranquillity inopen spaces together with an acoustic measurement methodology. Noise measurements,observations and questionnaires were undertaken at twenty open space sites chosen by WCC.The twenty sites were subdivided into four typologies. A tranquillity score was developed from theanalysis of the survey findings together with a practical toolkit for the future assessment oftranquillity in Westminster.Key FindingsTranquillity is a complex concept. It is both a state of mind as well as an indicator of environmentalquality. For example, a Buddhist monk can find tranquillity in the noisiest of spaces whilst somerural households complain bitterly about noise levels taken for granted in the city. Westminster CityCouncil has rightly identified that tranquillity is a relative characteristic. It believes however, thatmany people suffer from the impacts of ‘unwanted sound’ – noise and the City Council’s 24 hournoise team receives over 18,000 ‘reports of noise problems’ a year.In this context, open spaces, which already carry a huge range of functions and expectations,might also be able to provide more respite from unwanted noise and a chance to bring a sense ofcalm into the lives of Westminster’s many residents, workers and visitors – a sense of tranquillity inthe city.How then did the twenty sites measure up and what in particular was the significance of noise inusers’ sense of tranquillity in and enjoyment of these spaces?The lowest measured noise levels were observed towards the centre of the largest open spaces,these also had the highest tranquillity scores. Noise levels at the edges of the large sites were ashigh as many of the smaller sites.Conversely the sites with highest noise levels were judged amongst the lowest tranquillity scores.However, the overall correlation was weak across the full range of noise levels within the openspaces surveyed. In the open spaces with moderate noise climates a wide range of otherexperiential factors influence the respondents’ appreciation of the space and its tranquillity.Overall no strong correlation between tranquillity score and noise level was seen. Noise levels atonly two sites were below the WHO (World Health Organisation) guideline noise level for gardensand recreational areas of 55 dB L Aeq .Analysis of the findings showed that positive visual factors are of equal or greater importance thannoise factors when defining tranquillity. However, negative noise factors such as traffic and aircraftnoise are more likely to detract from tranquillity where an open space doesn’t score particularlyhigh in terms of other (mainly) visual factors.In many, although not all, of the open spaces surveyed, there was evidence that users were ableto switch off less pleasant noise, often helped by the positive aspects of the space, although moodand other associations of the place in users’ minds will also come into this.The evidence strongly suggests that mitigation of the most un-tranquil open spaces would involvenoise related interventions, while enhancement of tranquillity in other (less noisy) spaces wouldD121316/R1/02iScott Wilson LtdMarch 2009
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