Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05683 by Jenny Gilruth on 31 January 2022, whether it will consider the Dutch Road Noise Mitigation Program and associated legislation in 2012 as a benchmark in its development of noise barriers along trunk roads in urban areas in Scotland.
In 2006 the Scottish Government transposed the European Union's Environmental Noise Directive (END) for managing noise pollution into Scots law via the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006. European countries follow a generally consistent approach to noise mapping and action planning, for example the prioritisation process developed for Scotland’s noise action plans is based on a prioritisation process which aligns closely with the Dutch Road Noise Mitigation Programme.
In preparation for the next round of noise mapping, and to ensure noise mitigation best practice and associated legislation is fully considered, the Scottish Government has convened the Scottish Environmental Noise Steering Group (SENSG). This includes representation from key stakeholders and provides a forum to steer the production of Scotland’s strategic noise maps and associated Action Plans, including the prioritisation of control measures such as any that may be required on the trunk road network.