Din harms your health

Published: 3 September, 2010

• RESIDENTS of Whitecross Street are plagued by noise nuisance from pubs and 24-hour off-licences, although there are 4,800 flats in EC1 which make it a very residential area.

When considering licensing of pubs the Islington licensing committee seems not to take into consideration the effect noise nuisance has on the individuals living close by.

There has been an abundance of evidence that noise and lack of sleep cause various health conditions, especially in children. In addition, various health studies have highlighted health inequalities in EC1.

However, Islington licensing refuses to consider the problem of noise nuisance when granting licences and how it contributes towards those same health inequalities Islington Council, the NHS and various charities are trying to improve. 

Therefore, with this abundance of evidence and by not taking this into consideration, Islington licensing could be accused of contributing towards those same health inequalities.

These studies are just a paper exercise and not worth the time and effort if those in authority ignore their existence. 

In children, lack of sleep contributes towards obesity and diabetes among many other conditions.

They need only to search on Google to find out.

GEORGE TOPPING
Chair, Whitecross Estate Tenants’ and Residents’ Association