Latest news with #noise
Irish Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Like living near a helicopter': Residents fed up at takeaway delivery drones buzzing over their homes
Imagine you are sitting outside on a clear day with the sun shining and a motorbike goes straight through your back garden. That is how one resident in Blanchardstown described the noise of the delivery drone service that operates in the Dublin 15 area. The sound of the drones has been likened to a tractor or lawnmower and described as being louder than nearby cars. 'It disrupts the peace of my home,' one local woman said. Another resident said he was unable to work from home due to the noise. READ MORE Noel Powell, an IT engineer, described it as 'like living close to a helicopter'. He said he also had privacy concerns about the drones being fitted with cameras. The service has been in operation for more than a year and has divided opinion locally. Fingal County Council says it has received 25 complaints from locals regarding the drones since January 2024 to last January, with 18 primarily about the noise. The drone service, operated by Manna , delivers takeaways, coffee and a whole host of other items weighing 4kg or less from a base at the Junction 6 complex close to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. The drones – which are white with red and green flashing lights – deliver food 'usually in less than three minutes' and can fly up to 16km, the firm's website says. They fly at an altitude of up to 70 metres and reach speeds of up to 80km/h. The company said drone carried cameras for safety reasons, to confirm that the delivery zone is clear of obstacles. The camera activates when the drone hovers 14m above the ground upon arrival at the delivery location. 'The camera does not record, store, or transmit any data. We are fully compliant with GDPR [data protection] regulations,' a Manna spokesman said. Manna has received just under 80 complaints and has made 170,000 deliveries in the Dublin 15 area so far, he said, saying the company has taken each complaint 'seriously and responded to directly'. Another resident, Séamus Doyle, said his biggest concern with the drones in his area was noise levels. 'Even living close to a busy road, the drones are worse,' he said. The drones no longer fly over his home after he asked the company for an overflight exclusion, but they do go over the back wall of his garden. Resident Séamus Doyle: 'I've a feeling Dublin 15 could survive without drones.' Photograph: Dan Dennison 'Last summer, there was one every 10 minutes and they fly over and back, so about 12 an hour at its busiest,' Mr Doyle said. He said the drones were louder than his neighbour's petrol lawnmower. 'I've a feeling Dublin 15 could survive without drones,' he said. Ann-Marie, who did not wish to give her full name, first found out the service was in her area when a drone went over her home for the first time. 'It was a shock. I didn't know what it was when it first went past,' she said. Like Mr Doyle, she told the company she did not want the drones flying over her house. Noise is one of the biggest concerns for her. It's interesting technology that could be used for social good, but it's for delivering takeaways 'I'm surprised at how loud they are: they're louder than cars near our house. It has a real impact on people,' she said. 'Maybe if it was delivering blood transfusions or medicine, but it's takeaways. It's interesting technology that could be used for social good, but it's for delivering takeaways.' On that issue, a Manna spokesman said the company was running trials 'to help deliver defibrillators as part of an emergency response'. Peter, a local resident who did not wish to give his full name, said he was not against drones, which had 'great potential and great uses'. Instead, he felt strongly about the Manna drone landing site at Junction Six, which is located '90 metres directly from a housing development'. 'My issue is seeing everyone's drone delivery. There could be 30 an hour. I can hear them from my back garden and in the kitchen,' he said. 'It's like a motorbike overhead, it's intrusive and really annoying.' Not all feedback on the drones is negative, though. For kids' parties, it's quite exciting to see the drone coming and the delivery bag dropping down Manna customer Kieran O'Sullivan started using the company's services a couple of months ago to deliver his takeaway once a week. He described the process as 'very easy' and said the drone delivery service was better than other delivery services such as bicycle or car as 'it's way quicker, the food is hotter and fresher'. Ian Downes, the chief executive officer of Kahuna Pops, said the delivery drone system had been 'absolutely incredible' for the ice lollies brand since it started using Manna last year. Customer feedback cited how 'unique and exciting' it was, he said. Ian Downes, chief executive of Kahuna Pops, which uses the drone service to deliver ice treats. Photograph: Dan Dennison 'For kids' parties, it's quite exciting to see the drone coming and the bag dropping down. It's quite fun and that matches our brand; popsicles are meant to be fun,' he said. Ted Leddy, Fine Gael councillor for the Castleknock area, said there were mixed views within the community. 'There was the shock element at first, but now there are legitimate concerns around safety and privacy.' Complaints 'come and go in waves', but remain 'consistent', he said. He felt that local authorities and the company needed to come together to inform locals on the rules of drones. John Burtchaell, a People Before Profit Solidarity Party councillor in the Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart area, said he had received lots of complaints about the drones alongside 'one or two' positive messages about them 'being good and taking traffic off the road'. He describes it as a '50:1' ratio of those against the drones to those in favour. Manna says it is regulated to the highest standards by the Irish Aviation Authority 'Maybe if applications of drones were used for medication and emergency situations it would be important, but not McDonald's, coffee and doughnuts – it's not necessary.' John Walsh, Labour councillor for Castleknock, said he was 'concerned about the unrestricted use of delivery drones'. 'There are huge volumes of concerns. The only things I've heard more issues about are the housing crisis and the lack of school places,' he said. Councillor Walsh said a recent attempt by a criminal gang to drop a pipe bomb from a drone on its rivals in a housing estate in Finglas has deepened concerns. Labour Councillor John Walsh says regulations need improving. Photograph: Dan Dennison 'There is a gaping hole where regulation should be. Regulation has dragged massively behind innovation and technology,' he said. He said the current set-up was like 'cars on the road with no rules of the road, it's like the wild west'. 'The onus is on the Government to step up and local government to have authority to ensure democratic checks and balances are in system,' he said. Manna said it was 'regulated to the highest standards' by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. 'We undergo regular rigorous independent safety tests,' the spokesman said. An IAA spokesman said oversight and regulation of drone operations was risk-based. 'This means that the more complex the operation, the more restrictions and safety mitigations are required to ensure the safety of the public,' he said. The Department of Transport is working on a new policy framework for drones, which will set out strategy and priorities for the development of the sector in Ireland. A spokesman for the department said the framework was well advanced and was expected to be published in the coming months. Manna, which has plans to set up more sites in Dublin and Cork by the end of the year, said it welcomed all regulations and said it adhered 'to all those that we are required to'.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Asking Eric: Neighbors' trash habits cause a ruckus
Dear Eric: We live in a big city where houses are very close together. My neighbors keep their trash bins in the driveway close to my front and side doors. They have three dogs, and the bin banging begins early, sometimes before 7 in the morning. My living room and kitchen are right next to their driveway, so I hear banging from trash lids all day long from throwing dog waste and more. When I worked, I probably didn't notice as much, but I'm retired now, and it is really getting on my nerves. I want to ask them to please try to close the bin quietly instead of just letting the lids drop and bang, but my husband thinks they will retaliate and make it worse. We mostly have a good relationship with them, but I do not want to have this banging the rest of my life. Ideally, they should put their bins in the alley, but I would settle for quiet shutting as I guess it is convenient for them to keep close to my door. Your thoughts? — Quiet Please Quiet: If you have a mostly peaceable relationship with your neighbors, it doesn't seem likely that a request like this would escalate to retaliation. It's a reasonable ask and your solutions — either moving the bins or being more conscientious about shutting them — are seemingly easy to implement. Whether in a big city with its close proximities, or a remote piece of land where the nearest house is barely in view, or somewhere in between, we have to figure out how to live in harmony with those around us. As with any other relationship, one of the foundations of good neighborhood is communication. And that runs both ways. When you let them know what you're experiencing, you empower them to make a change. So, don't be afraid to speak up. Now, it's also true that some people are, well, jerks. And if that's the case and they set about making more noise, rather than less, then you've got a different issue. But I'm hoping conscientiousness wins out for your sake. Dear Eric: I have remained close with my college roommate, Chris, for 45 years. Life has not been easy for her due to various health issues, which I believe all stem from her unhealthy eating habits. About 10 years ago, after Chris was laid off from a job she loved and had worked at for years, she found herself in a financial bind. She came to stay with my family in another state for several months, rent free, while she looked for another job and an affordable apartment, neither of which panned out. After advising us that she was going to stop looking until she got back from a planned cruise, I finally had to ask her to leave when we realized we were being taken advantage of. Before Chris left, we paid off her car loan to help her along. Since then, Chris has continually called to ask for money because she knows I can afford to give it to her. She has asked for and been given money from other friends as well to help her out with her medical bills. The last time she called I finally put my foot down and told her I was not going to give her any more money. Now I find myself feeling guilty, but I am also feeling resentful. I do worry about Chris and what will happen to her. Am I wrong for feeling this way? — Guilty Friend Friend: It makes sense that you'd feel a complicated mix of emotions. You care about Chris — and have for decades — and you want what's best for her. You've also put a lot of energy into helping her out. But, from your telling, Chris isn't being active enough in finding solutions to her financial troubles. Or, at least, as active as you'd prefer. So, the guilt probably stems from the feeling that you can do more, even though you suspect that doing more for Chris might not solve the underlying issue. It's worth considering that Chris may have other struggles that are preventing her from getting back on her feet. This doesn't give her free license to treat you like an ATM, but perhaps thinking about her journey in a different way will help ease the resentment you're feeling. Now that you've drawn the line, you have an opportunity to redefine how your friendship works. You might talk with her about how those requests felt to you and how you're feeling now. The goal is to clear the air a bit so that, ideally, you can be there for each other as longtime friends and, potentially, you can provide support for Chris in ways that aren't monetary. (Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@ or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at 2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
CNET
3 days ago
- General
- CNET
Deafening Cicada Chaos Is Coming and I Can't Stop It. Here's One Foolproof Way I Prepare
I still remember the first year I saw a major cicada brood emerge. I was a teenager, helpless to the swarm descending on my neighborhood. Big, red-beaded-eye bugs everywhere I turned -- in my grandparents' pool, inside my best friend's truck -- flying into open windows and causing a racket everywhere. Because cicadas don't just look like hell. They're also loud. Deafening, even. Loud enough that if you're a person who's easily overwhelmed or distracted by noise, like I am, that you're investing in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones to drown out the relentless and exceptionally cacophonous buzzing of these winged insects so insistent that some people might find it hard to hear their own thoughts. We're in the thick of cicada season brood XIV (14) now -- from May through at least June, these noisy bugs will climb up from the ground and swarm in a number of eastern states before they mate, die off, and disappear only to emerge again years later. We won't see Brood XIV again, which is appearing this year, until 2037. Cicadas are usually expected to stimulate noise complaints through the beginning and middle of summer, but 2025 has a gigantic The Greater Eastern Brood with billions of these flying insects emerging. Billions! You might be interested to know it's the oldest brood in the US, set to hit 13 states, including Tennessee and Georgia, where they've already been spotted -- or heard. Don't bug spray cicadas. Do this instead (sorry) The red-eyed bugs of Brood XIV, which will soon emerge by the millions. The cicada chasers are immediate reaction to cicadas might be to try and eliminate them from your yard. We don't recommend it. Cicadas are a temporary pest and after a few weeks they'll disappear back underground. They aren't a threat to humans at all and they aren't able to chew their way into the house like termites. Additionally, pesticides don't work well on cicadas. Trying to spray them down won't do any good and could instead damage your yard or local pollinators. The best thing to do is to try to ignore them until they finish their life cycle. The bigger problem for some people is the constant noise that cicadas make while they are above ground. It's a relentless buzz and, once the cicadas arrive, it won't stop until they die off again. If the never-ending noise drives you bonkers, grabbing a quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones can make a major difference to your quality of life -- or at least to mine. Really. Why are cicadas so loud? Here's what's happening: Male cicadas make noise to attract females they can mate with -- the more cicadas in an area, the louder it will be. Noise levels have reached more than 100 decibels in some areas, which means if you plan to spend time in the garden, it's a good idea to snag some earplugs to protect your hearing. Wait, what are cicadas again? Cicadas are also known as "true bugs" and emerge on a 13-year or 17-year cycle. Gene Kritsky/Mount St. Joseph University Cicadas are flying bugs that emerge from the ground periodically to mate and then disappear again. They measure 1 to 1.5 inches long, with wings that stretch twice that length. Their bodies are black, with red-brown eyes and orange veined membranous wings. There are 15 broods of cicadas and each has its own life cycle, generally either 13 or 17 years. Brood XIV, the cicada brood emerging in 2025, is a 17-year brood. That means the last time we saw this particular band of insects was in 2008. How many cicadas are expected in 2025? The 2025 brood is also called the Greater Eastern Brood and it's the second-largest brood of periodic cicadas. They're outdone only by Brood XIX, aka the Great Southern Brood, which emerged in 2024. While there aren't exact numbers on how many cicadas we can expect this year, we do know that Brood XIV is massive. It's also one of the oldest broods in the US. This particular brood was first spotted in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the 1600s, and it's the brood that spawned all the other 17-year broods. With that in mind, we can estimate that at least several million in certain areas, and possibly over a trillion total cicadas will emerge in 2025. Which states will be affected by cicadas in 2025? Each cicada brood has its own geographical location, which means they don't all appear in the same place. In 2025, there are 13 states that will be affected; Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Do I need to protect my trees from cicadas? While cicadas aren't harmful to people, that same doesn't go for trees. Female cicadas like to lay their eggs on trees where new leaves are located, which can damage branches and cause withering and snapping. While mature trees should be able to withstand this damage without problems, younger trees can be vulnerable and should be protected. Cicadas are a nuisance but they're here for a good time ... not a long you're worried about cicada damage, you have a few options. You can wrap tree trunks and areas where twigs meet branches with cheesecloth, tape and even use landscaping nets around smaller trees. A CNET guide from 2021 explains more about how you can protect trees from cicada damage. When do cicadas appear, and how long do they stick around? While cicadas are a serious pest when they arrive, they don't last long. They'll mostly emerge in May and then stick around for 5 to 6 weeks before they die off. By mid-summer, just in time for the Fourth of July, the cicadas should be gone or at least on their way back underground for another 17 years. Cicadas emerge when the soil 8 inches below ground reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Above-ground temperatures will need to reach the 70- to 80-degree range before the soil will warm up enough, although a warm rain can warm the ground faster. There already have been sightings in Tennessee this year but most of the brood probably won't arrive for a few more weeks. Can you eat cicadas? Cicadas can be eaten but there are things you should know before cooking them. Dan Mogzai The simple answer is, yes. Cicadas can be eaten and people have been doing it for centuries. Native American populations, like the Onondaga Nation, have long viewed the flying insect as a valuable food source. However, eating cicadas does come with risks. Cicadas are related to shrimp and lobster, which means eating them is not recommended if you have a seafood allergy. Cicadas aren't dangerous to pets either, which means if your dog snacks on cicadas it should be fine. Cicadas and climate change For centuries, cicadas have slept underground, emerging only once every 13 to 17 years to mate before disappearing again. While plenty of research has been done on these flying insects, cicadas react to the temperature around them and emerge on a schedule that is triggered by the warmth of the ground. As the planet continues to heat up, the timing of cicadas has started to change. We may soon see a significant change in the life cycle of cicadas. As the temperatures rise, 17-year cicadas could become 13-year cicadas, changing the timeline on when we will see them. While cicadas might be inclined to move further north, it's not an easy process. They can only migrate during their above-ground cycle of life. Because they only emerge for a few weeks at a time and aren't prone to flying long distances, any shift in their geographical locations would occur slowly during their emergences. How you can help cicada researchers Snap a photo and help researchers learn more about cicadas. Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET Researchers spend time with each brood when it emerges to study its life cycle and track when and where they emerge. However, scientists don't have the time or resources to be everywhere that cicadas appear. That's where regular folks come in. Cicada Safari is a free app for Android and iOS that lets you take photos of cicadas and upload them to the app. Using geolocation on those uploaded images, scientists can track a larger number of cicadas. Your photos of these flying bugs in your backyard can help scientists to understand them better, filling in holes in their research.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Edmonton police cracking down on loud and fast drivers
Edmonton Watch The Edmonton Police Service says it has already issued 169 tickets to drivers for speeding and noise.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Real Madrid: The noise battle at the heart of the Bernabéu
Last year, tens of thousands of 'Swifties' - Taylor Swift fans - thronged Madrid to watch back-to-back concerts at the Spanish capital's famous Bernabéu stadium, home to Real Madrid, who won Europe's Champions League final less than 24 hours later, on 1 mega-concert was one of dozens of high-profile gigs staged at the newly renovated stadium in 2024 to boost the club's the project was short lived. In September all gigs were cancelled after residents living within earshot of the music filed a legal complaint over the nine months later, Spanish pop singer Aitana is the latest artist to switch venues from the Bernabéu to the Metropolitano Stadium – home to rivals Atletico Madrid – as the court case rumbles on."In every concert it is exactly the same," says Enrique Martínez de Azagra, president of the neighbours' association. He and other locals say the sound from concerts like Taylor Swift's has become too much."It is impossible to suffer this kind of noise and it affects our health, it affects migraines, insomnia and heart attacks and it is a criminal offence in our laws," adds Madrid, the noise levels measured by the neighbours exceeded 90 decibels regularly during the Marnane from the European Environment Agency says that in Europe any level of 55 decibels or above is considered to be harmful, and continued exposure can lead to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease such as strokes. There are also links between noise exposure and diabetes. Enrique says there is a significant difference between the noise from the concerts compared with that from football matches. He and most of his neighbours have lived in the area for decades. Many of them are life-long Real Madrid supporters and are on committees that represent the interests of the club."Football is a sport that lasts two hours, more or less. The noise is normal. Only when there is a goal, the passion surges," says Enrique. The problem he sees with the concerts is that they spew continuously high levels of noise for long periods of hours at a reduce their exposure to these high levels of noise, Enrique and his neighbours took Real Madrid to journalist Felippo Maria Ricci believes they have a strong case."The Bernabéu is right in the heart of Madrid. The neighbours who live there have good positions and know the right people," says Felippo. "This battle for the concerts can be quite long but at the moment Real Madrid is losing this battle."The neighbours say the city government is hesitant to resolve the issue as it benefits from the tourism and the money the concerts generate. According to local media reports, tourists coming for the Taylor Swift concerts alone spent about €25m (£21m; $28m).Filippo says that the £1.1bn renovation to make the stadium multi-purpose was supposed to provide a huge financial boost to Real also signed a contract with a US company selling the commercial rights to the stadium. "They spent a lot of money to develop a new system for the pitch, to take it off when they have the concerts," says Filippo. "Now all this new super system is quite useless, at the moment, all that money is gone."Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons and AC/DC are among the acts playing at the rival Atlético stadium this City Council, the Mayor's office and Real Madrid have not responded to requests for comment by the Madrid has previously said it is trying to sound proof the stadium. According to local reports the club hired a specialist company and windows were installed in the skywalk I put to the neighbours that Real Madrid is trying to soundproof the stadium, they chuckled. Enrique works as an engineer and thinks it is "quite impossible to soundproof the stadium".While the Bernabéu's roof can close, the stadium is never completely closed, as there is an open gap between the roof and the facade all the way around the neighbours say they are not against all concerts."We've had concerts in the past, but once a year," says Pablo Baschwitz, a lawyer and one of the neighbours campaigning for recalls concerts with music legends such as Frank Sinatra and Julio Iglesias at the Bernabéu - but says having 20 concerts scheduled per year is just too much. From the roof terrace of one of the neighbours' flats the proximity to the stadium is plain to point to a health centre that they say struggles to accurately measure patients' blood pressure at times because the sound waves from the concerts disturb the readings in their says the concerts aren't the only problem – there are also rehearsals and sound checks during the day which disturb the local community, including Jordana de Pozas lives right across from the stadium, and some of the noise measurements were taken on the outside and inside of his his terrace overlooking the Bernabéu, he explains how newly added metal plates on the stadium's exterior have amplified the sound, and shows me recorded videos of the "unbearable" Madrid, the facades of the houses around the stadium are lined with banners. Draped from their windows, balconies and terraces the neighbours put their protest posters on display, reading "conciertos no" (no concerts) and "ruído no" (no noise).For now, while the case is in court, the music has stopped.
