Pub gardens must be 'quiet as offices'

Pubs face stringent new noise regulations that dramatically cut permissible levels inside and outside.

But advice on how to stick to the regulations for internal noise won't be available to pubs until July - three months after the rules come in.

The Noise at Work Regulations require action on noise inside pubs if volumes inside exceed 85 decibels.

But in an even greater blow for licensees, new penalties are to be introduced for sounds outside pubs between 11pm and 7am.

Pubs risk fines if more than 34 decibels can be heard in nearby homes. Poppleston Allen partner Andrew Grimsey said the volume is roughly the same as that heard in a quiet office.

"The best advice is to be a good neighbour, to keep in contact with any particularly sensitive residents, to manage music and other event noise proactively, and to take advice from the EHO."

A guide called Sound Advice, from the Health & Safety Executive, was supposed to be available to

help pubs comply before the

regulations are implemented in April.

Charles Loft, policy officer at local government co-ordinator Lacors, confirmed that it won't be available until July.

Loft said Lacors advises councils to wait until Sound Advice is published before enforcing the regulations.

Councils aren't bound to follow Lacors' advice - so many pubs could be forced to abide by the regulations anyway.

British Beer & Pub Associa-tion director Martin Rawlings said: "It's a complete disregard [of the needs of businesses] by the Health & Safety Executive not to have the advice available. Businesses will face environmental health officers (EHO) armed with the information on the regulations that is not available to them. This will be a difficult piece of legislation for businesses and they need guidance."

The regulations require noise risk assessments, annual health checks for staff and the provision of "quiet areas". A draft version of the guide can be seen at www.soundadvice.info.

This comes as new penalties are introduced for sounds outside pubs between 11pm and 7am.

Pubs risk fines if more than 34 decibels can be heard in nearby homes. Poppleston Allen partner Andrew Grimsey said the volume is roughly the same as that heard in a quiet office.

"The best advice is to be a good neighbour, to keep in contact with any particularly sensitive residents, to manage music and other event noise proactively, and to take advice from the EHO."