CHAPTER 1GENERAL
Duty to issue guidance on action plans and consolidated noise maps
12.—(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 requirements
13.—(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.