Noise terror in Meinerzhagen: Residents demand immediate action!

Noise terror in Meinerzhagen: Residents demand immediate action!

In Meinerzhagen, residents of Marienheider Straße (L306) complain about unbearable noise pollution caused by the high volume of traffic and an unfavorable traffic situation. 89-year-old Marlies Albus is one of those affected and feels abandoned by those responsible with her concerns. She has been fighting for years to finally be heard, but so far every request for support has been fruitless. “It's become unbearable,” says Albus, particularly describing the noise of empty trucks over manhole covers that robs her of sleep and peace.

The problem is not new, as the L306 was already heavily frequented before the A45 motorway was closed. Since this additional burden, there has been even greater pressure on traffic management, and the closure of the Volme Bridge in Kierspe in May has not improved the situation. Residents reported measured noise levels of up to 90 dB(A) from trucks and around 70 dB(A) behind house walls, even at night. The traffic count revealed alarming figures: over 23,000 cars and 1,444 trucks pass on one side of the road every day.

Exposure to traffic noise

Road traffic noise is the dominant source of noise in Germany. It is estimated that around 75% of the population is disturbed by this noise, which shows how widespread the problem is. According to a survey on “Environmental Awareness in Germany 2020”, around 2.3 million people feel exposed to levels above 65 dB(A) all day long. At night, around 2.6 million suffer from levels above 55 dB(A). Here in Meinerzhagen too, the values ​​are clearly too high and exceed those of the WHO and that Federal Environment Agency recommended target values ​​clearly: the minimum target of 65/55 dB(A) for day and night is regularly exceeded.

Residents are therefore demanding greater efforts in terms of noise protection measures. In particular, they advocate compliance with the speed limit of 50 km/h, especially at night. Lars Schade from the Federal Environment Agency points out that similar noise situations occur throughout Germany, but many citizens have no right to immediate action. All you can do is insist on careful noise measurements. Many find the district police authority's measurements to be inadequate and are demanding more commitment from the city regarding their concerns.

Potential solutions and necessary measures

What should happen next in Meinerzhagen? According to the recommendations of the Federal Environment Agency Technical improvements to vehicles as well as noise-reducing road surfaces and speed reductions should be discussed. For example, speed limits could reduce noise levels by two to three dB(A), which would already represent a significant improvement. The use of sound barriers could also help prevent the noise from spreading.

Another important concern is the noise reduction of existing roads, which, however, is not clearly regulated by law. The federal government is required to provide around 65 million euros per year for such measures on federal highways. Given the negative health and quality of life effects that persistent noise has, it is imperative that local authorities finally take action.