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.