In February 2022, the Parish Council launched a village noise survey following complaints received that noise from Appleford Sidings was increasing in terms of volume and frequency.
Summary of Findings
There were 78 responses with 63 submitted online and 15 paper returns. The Survey which commenced 1 February 2022 is now closed.
Key findings are:
- Ninty-nine percent (99%) of respondents notice noise from Appleford Sidings, with ninety-five percent (95%) reporting an increase in volume and frequency. Most respondents said the noise is not comparable to rail traffic on the main Didcot to Oxford rail line.
- Scraping (89%), clanking (93%) and rail movement of carriages / wagons (62%) were the main noise types reported, with a second-tier category of loading / unloading trains, reversing bleepers, and idling engines.
- Noise was reported over the entire day from 6:00 am through to midnight. Frequencies experienced were 6 days per week (60%) and 2-3 days (36%).
- Seventy-eight percent (78%) of villagers who responded to Q8 confirm that the noise affects them negatively.
- Seventy one percent (71%) of respondents rated the effect of the noise on themselves or their family as either a nuisance (36%), big effect (21%) or intolerable (14%).
- Seventeen respondents made complaints and directed these to various organisations, including the Parish Council, the Environment Agency, Hanson Aggregates and Oxfordshire County Council. Recently an Environment Officer at the Vale of White Horse DC visited the village to speak to residents about their noise concerns.
- Most responses to the survey were from rail side or adjacent residences on Main Road, Sinodun Row or Chambrai Close.
See slides below for full results.
The findings will be copied to Hanson Aggregates, FCC Environment, Vale of White Horse District Council, Oxfordshire County Council, and the Environment Agency. The Parish Council will engage with Hanson Aggregates and others to see what measures can be taken to reduce noise levels in the village.
The Parish Council thanks all those who competed the survey.