NOISE AT NIGHT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 8

NOISE AT NIGHT

Garbage Collection In Lambton Quay SLEEP DISTURBED Complaints of noise created iu the early hours of the morning by garbage collectors at work in Lambton Quay are being made by residents of lhe Terrace, particularly those on the side nearest the Quay. ‘Tt is nothing unusual for a household to be awakened about 3 a.m. and kept awake for an hour by the terrific din that goes on,” said one man yesterday. He added that several of his neighbours had rhe same experience. lie supplied the following description of the noises of garbage collecting as it is carried out in Wellington, based, he said, in hours of unwilling Listening :—

“First comes the roar of a heavy and presumably ancient truck engine ‘revving’ at high speed; then a screech of brakes. There is a clatter as the lid of the garbage tin is lifted and allowed to fall to rhe pavement; silence for two or three seconds and then a reverberating pounding as the tin is bashed against the side of the truck to dislodge its contents. A heavier crash follows as the tin is hurled back to the pavement. Finally the lid is slammed on. The truck moves on a few yards and the Whole process begins again. To break the monotony there are occasionally a few cheerful shouts from the men.

“The noise begins pianissimo in the distance, rising to double forte and then sinking again to pianissimo. The whole movement takes about half an hour. Sleep begins to return—but only just —wlhen the second movement begins down the other side of the quay. This also takes about half an hour. “One appreciates the difficulties of the men,” the speaker continued, “but if it is not possible to have the garbage collected before 11 p.m., surely something could be done to lessen the noise. At present it is beyond all reason.

“For a start, a silent truck, with brakes that do not screech, could be obtained. The sides of the truck could be protected with thick rubber, such as old motor-car tyres, to minimize the noise when the tins are jarred against them to dislodge the contents. Certainly the men should be asked to refrain from hurling the tins about in the light-hearted way they do, even if the job takes a little longer. “We have been hearing a lot about physical fitness, in the promotion of Which undisturbed sleep is said to be desirable, but it is almost impossible for anyone living near Lambton Quay to get undisturbed sleep at: present.”