Noise valuation: The UK Experience

1. Noise valuation: The UK Experience Alistair Hunt University of Bath EC HEATCO project meeting Las Palmas 19.01.06

2. Presentation Outline • Recruitment procedures • Compatibility with Noise databases • Feedback from Survey company • Other comments

3. Recruitment procedures in UK country study • Select Research – recruitment company employed out of short-list of three • Sample size target of 1,100; over-recruit by 10%; final sample size of 1049 • Ideal: equal split between rural and urban • Actual: selection criteria determined by:- • noise database availability; • < 50 m from major road/rail line

4. Sample split in UK country study

5. Noise level databases • Geographical coverage of survey dictated by availability of noise Db data. • Noise Mapping England Project due to be completed by 2007 to inform development of National Ambient Noise Strategy • Existing coverage: two predominantly urban areas - Birmingham and Greater London

6. Noise level databases (2) • Compromise between urban-rural coverage and database coverage • Circa 500 survey sample observations covered by the two noise level databases • London database only covers road • London measures Lden; Birmingham measures LAeq • Maps use 5 Db ranges; German solution of taking mid-point seems sensible

7. Selected comments from survey company report • Rail vs Road The interviewers found that respondents that lived close to railways were hardly affected by the noise compared to those that lived close to roads. They could be living right next to the railway but only hear it occasionally. • Q3 – dust & dirt Birmingham - this was a bigger issue for a lot of the respondents that lived by busy roads than the noise. • Q8 &Q12 Respondents found these questions repetitive and irritating/confusing and the interviewers ended up just asking the first part of the question – how much would you be willing to pay; and leaving the second part of the question – how much would you not be willing to pay

8. Selected comments from survey company report (2) • Q12 London interviewer felt that respondents had more of a problem answering this question than the road users did Q8. We already pay road taxes, but harder to relate to paying for rail improvements, it’s more of an abstract issue for them – much more down to the government and the rail companies. • Q18 Birmingham interviewer felt this should read ‘do any of the bedrooms face…’ because some of the respondents had problems because their children’s bedrooms face the road. • Q21 Both interviewers found that respondents found it difficult to connect to this question if they’d been living in their home a long time – because they couldn’t remember, or more often because things had changed so much the situation just doesn’t compare

9. Selected comments from survey company report (3) • Contact Details “We could really do with adding in an area for the recruiter to fill in the respondent’s contact details, for quality control purposes, and also so that we can recontact the respondent if the questionnaire doesn’t make sense”.

10. Other comments • Transport noise seems to be one of a wide variety of local environmental issues - rarely dominant in respondents’ minds • Post-focus group policy scenario much better accepted by respondents