A GOOD DAY FOR BRASS BANDS, BARTENDERS AND BLAST FURNACES
March 13, 2002 12:00 AM
'BARMY' SOCIALIST PLANS FOR EU NOISE DIRECTIVE DEFEATED
Lib Dem MEP Liz Lynne and a coalition from industry are celebrating today after winning their battle to defeat 'barmy and unworkable' plans to change the EU Noise Directive.
A Danish Socialist MEP's report on the Directive had caused widespread anxiety with proposals so extreme that they would have decimated industry across Britain and the EU and also clobbered the music industry, pubs and clubs.
But the European Parliament in Strasbourg has this morning voted for a directive to use weekly instead of daily averaging of noise exposure limits whenever 'duly justified' - a key concern of industry. The use of hearing protectors will also be taken into account.
MEPs also backed an amendment co-sponsored by Liz Lynne MEP exempting the music and leisure industry for five years while the Commission consults on new proposals.
The result follows months of lobbying by the West Midlands region MEP and representatives from many industries against the proposals of the Danish Socialist MEP, Helle Thorning Schmidt.
Liz Lynne said: "If this MEP had got her way on the noise directive, industry would have been decimated, bartenders would have to wear ear muffs and brass bands would have been muzzled.
"Last year I realised that we had to build a massive lobby against the barmy proposals in her report - not just in Britain but in other EU states too. There is scope for noise reduction in many areas but industrial processes will inevitably produce high ambient noise whatever you do.
"We had a fight on our hands but thankfully we have won the day. Nearly all of the changes suggested have now either been withdrawn or voted down. This is a good day for brass bands, bartenders and blast furnaces."
Briefing Notes to reporters on Noise Directive: Liz Lynne has worked closely with industry representatives such as the Construction Industry Products Association (CPA) to try and get a practical text for the noise directive agreed. Extensive lobbying prior to the last Employment and Social Affairs committee achieved significant U turns by the Socialist
Rapporteur Helle Thorning Schmidt MEP. She agreed that hearing protectors would after all be taken into account when setting noise limits and also agreed averaging of limits over a week in 'exceptional' circumstances instead of just one day. The votes today were a further improvement, with MEPs voting for weekly averages in all circumstances which are 'duly
justfied' rather than 'exceptional'.
Music and leisure: MEPs today voted to support a plan for live and recorded music to be exempt from the directive for five years. At least three years before this deadline, the Commission would present a report, after consultation with both sides of the industry affected. This would look at the impact of the noise directive and suggest proposals either for a special form of regulation or to exclude music and leisure activities
from the directive altogether.
TORY ATTACKS IGNORE RULES OF PROCEDURE
Liz Lynne has been criticised by Tory MEPs for voting for the Thorning Schmidt report to go forward from the committee. But she has pointed out that the vote was essential to allow further amendments to be voted on in Parliament this week. Quote: "If the Conservative EPP group had got their way and voted down the report in Committee, there would be no way we could get the amendment to exempt music and leisure for five years through. Under the rules we would not have been able even to debate the directive at Strasbourg this week at all, let alone amend it. Party political posturing nearly ruined months of
work by many MEPs and industry representatives. Basic rules of procedure were just ignored."
The amended text is still subject to conciliation with the Council of Ministers, but it now agrees closely with the common position.
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