Silent Night
Local authorities have had the power since 2003 to fine people a minimum of £100 who make a noise between 11:00pm and 6:00am (I think it was) and it was reported on the Jeremy Vine show this morning that Portsmouth is the first LA to invoke those powers.
The minimum noise level is 34 decibels or as the Jeremy Vine programme offered, the noise from a ticking clock. The noise level is not that at source but the level that is heard next door.
For some people a noise just on the edge of conscious hearing can be most annoying and could prevent someone from dropping off or even wake them. Especially the heavy boom, boom, boom of a modern pop record, which quietly pervades the whole area without actually being too loud. On the other hand much louder noises do not bother some people.
So here we have yet another step towards the 1984 society.
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