More 'noisy' cameras being installed in central London
Drivers making too much noise will be fined
A pioneering project to stop drivers revving their engines in central London has been extended.
Two acoustic cameras, which were first used in Sloane Street and Pont Street near Harrods, are now being installed in Holland Park Avenue and Sloane Street.
In four months last year, they were triggered almost two thousand times, with 163 fines given out. Motorbikes were the worst offenders.
The cameras were set up after people living in the area complained about 'souped-up cars and noisy motorbikes disturbing them'. They store video and sound levels when a filtered sound signal over 80db is detected. The sound level and detailed video recordings can be used to prosecute motorists.
Michael Stephen, the vice chair of the Chelsea Society said whilst souped-up cars cause some disturbance, members were more concerned by the noise of motor bikes revving their engines at traffic lights. He said:
“The worst offender is the motor bike in terms of noise and frequency. There are many more motorcycles than supercars.”
“Motor bikes standing still and revving their engines are definitely anti-social and so is driving off at a high level of noise.”
Hot spots are Sloane Street, King’s Road and the Chelsea Embankment.
“We would like motorcycles to be more aware that excessive noise is not to be tolerated,”.
“Noise pollution is a serious problem for people in cities.”
He said souped up cars, rather than high end super cars, also cause a problem, although people like to spot the expensive cars near Harrods and Sloane Avenue at weekends.
Johnny Thalassites, the councillor with responsibility for the environment said:
“Residents made it clear to us that they were sick of drivers using our streets as a racetrack. We have had fines in place for a while but piloting new noise camera technology last year has helped us catch more of the worst offenders and issue 144 fines and 69 warnings in just three months. We will bring back the cameras for this summer in the worst affected areas to protect residents and workers from disruptive noise and anti-social driving.”
The area around Sloane Street has become notorious for attracting fast expensive cars and spectators who gather to watch at the weekend.
One resident said: “It was mayhem. A lot of people come from all over the place to look at the cars.”
It comes as Kensington and Chelsea council said it is looking at extending its public spaces protection order which currently covers Brompton and Hans Town and parts of the Royal Hospital ward in Chelsea because of the “significant number” of complaints about nuisance vehicles.
It will launch a six-week consultation in July.
The council became the first local authority to get its own noise camera after it missed out on a government scheme. The cameras were funded by cash given by developers to the neighbourhood community infrastructure levy.