London Environment Strategy consultation

London and several other UK cities suffer from the worst use of public service sirens in the world.

I have visited major US and European cities and they severely curtail their siren use.

Screecher/piercers are only allowed or used on the motorway/highways.

In London the ambulance and police are fitted with 'piercers' and do very little to limit their use in a close, urban setting. Despite having the ability to adjust them - for volume or even tone - they simply don't. The result is we can hear these sirens up to half a mile away, and if they pass by there is no escape as the sound penetrates building walls.

Offices and homes are blighted by this constant blare, which is loud enough to stop talking and interrupt thought, sleep and living.

The drivers keep claiming, near junctions, they need to warn pedestrians. If this is so, why do they use a siren designed to penetrate for drivers in cars with the radio on?

The sirens also blare constantly near to ambulance depots and this is a constant source of stress for neighbours.

On weekends London sounds like a war zone, and the problem is worsened by the cars using sirens whenever they exceed 20mph in Camden, or when 'transferring' patients - sometimes for 10-20 minutes traversing Finchley Road north-south. It is a complete disgrace.

The key point is that other UK cities and even police in Camden regularly go to silent light or use softer tones which don't have the stressing effects of piercer - and it's just as effective for safety.

The ambulances are there to protect health but instead are destroying it with their constant bombardment of the city with constant noise never designed for it.

The strategy needs to include dealing with this issue!

I have just read the vision for 24 hour London, and it's good and I support. It's light on detail, but a vision should be. But I wonder if others have views about the rickshaws? I strongly object to them being on our streets. It's visceral and they provoke such strong feelings in me. It's mostly because I think they rip off tourists, who might think they have something to do with 'London'. I guess it's dodgy business interests behind it; I hate that they hawk for business; they get in the way; and seem to serve no purpose. God knows I'm not defending the black cab trade but at least it's ordered. Am I irrational and need to chill? Or does anyone else feel the same?

Night life is essential to making London a vibrant place to live and should not be restricted. Certain areas are clearly very residential and it should not be allowed there at all, but in some neighborhoods (e.g. Shoreditch, Soho, Covent Garden) and on high streets and lively squares, it should not be restricted. I believe designating specific neighborhoods and spots for entertainment/night life (this does not need to be in every neighborhood of course) would help concentrate the noise there and not have it spill out to quieter residential areas. Noise on high streets is to be expected anyway, traffic noise and pollution is much more of a problem there already and people who live directly on high streets cannot claim they did not sign up for that. I do agree however that noise should be reduced starting from 1 block away from high streets. It's also a matter of giving people enough information on what the policies and zones are so they can make an informed decision when renting/purchasing property (not find out after they've moved in).
By the way, the night life in London still pales in comparison to many other global capitals/cities like New York, but it has gotten a little better over the past 2-3 years.

The most annoying noise lately is from the police and ambulance. What is going on? Everywhere you go around London, this is pretty much all you hear, day and night. It is awful even tourists are asking if it is normal. You do not hear as much in NYC in the USA. Often many times they do not necessarily need the sirens on and they are super loud. 2am, very obtrusive and unnecessary. Also who is giving permission for helicopters to hover over residential areas in Newham at 10-11pm at night? I get that maybe there is an even at the Olympic stadium but there are plenty of other places over the QE park that aren't residential where the helicopter can hover. There is no consideration for people down below.