PART 3ACTION PLANS
CHAPTER 1GENERAL
Duty to issue guidance on action plans and consolidated noise maps12
1
No later than 18th July 2007 the Scottish Ministers shall issue guidance on the preparation and content of action plans.
2
The Scottish Ministers shall compile a consolidated noise map comprising all strategic noise maps that are adopted from time to time pursuant to regulation 21.
Action plans: general requirements13
1
Any action plan drawn up or revised under this Part shall–
a
meet the objectives of–
i
preventing and reducing environmental noise where necessary and in particular where exposure levels can induce harmful effects on human health; and
ii
preserving environmental noise quality where it is good;
b
be designed to manage noise issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary;
c
aim to protect quiet areas in first round agglomerations and agglomerations, as appropriate, against an increase in noise;
d
identify and address priorities for meeting the objectives set out in sub-paragraph (a);
e
apply in particular to the most important areas as established by strategic noise maps adopted pursuant to regulation 21; and
f
meet the requirements in Schedule 4.
2
Paragraph (3) applies to–
a
any action plan; and
b
any revision of an action plan,
drawn up under this Part for a first round agglomeration or an agglomeration.
3
Any action plan and any revision of an action plan shall be based upon and apply in particular to the most important areas as established by–
a
all strategic noise maps that–
i
are adopted pursuant to regulation 21; and
ii
concern any part of the area addressed by the action plan; and
b
a consolidated noise map compiled pursuant to regulation 12(2) to the extent that it concerns any part of the area addressed by the action plan.