Can the acoustic fencing keep the golfers happy?

There are several high quality golf courses in the UK, of course, but those which are close to railway lines and airports sometimes need acoustic barriers to keep the noise down to an acceptable level. This particular sport is one that prides itself on being able to offer a high level of peace and quiet for players to enjoy as they make their way round, and this rather idyllic atmosphere can sometimes be shattered by the sudden appearance of a high speed train or a plane that is coming in to land at an adjacent runway.

Some of the world’s most celebrated courses can be found in Britain, including several which play host to The Open Championship on a regular basis. Keen golfers who get the chance to play at these iconic venues will often be unhappy if the atmosphere is ruined by noise. There are few things a golfer loves more than an opportunity to gaze down a lush green fairway and hear only the passing birds and insects. These are snapshots of a game that is far more than just a competitive activity that men and women can enjoy at the weekends.

Acoustic barriers are sometimes a must-have

There are some sports, such as football and rugby, which by their very nature generate a substantial amount of noise. The roar of the crowd and the shouts of the players are all part of the experience, but for golfers life can be very different indeed. The swing of the club and the thwack as it hits the ball is just about the only noise you tend to hear, perhaps in addition to the occasional anguished sigh as a putt goes past the hole without going in. If the course is near to a motorway, a railway line or an airport, however, things can be very different indeed.

In such instances, a line of acoustic fencing can make all the difference, and can make the game worth playing once again. There are even some courses which are close to military air bases, and there are occasions when low-flying jets will provide a dramatic and extremely noisy fly-past. Needless to say, even the finest acoustic barriers will struggle to cope with the noise at times like that. As long as sensible measures are taken, golf courses in all parts of the United Kingdom can continue to offer some much-needed sanctuary to players.

Should smaller airports have acoustic barriers in place?

If you are a regular visitor to Gatwick or Heathrow, you will know that acoustic fencing plays a major role in helping to make life more bearable for local residents. Goodness knows how difficult things would be if the planes that are constantly taking off and landing were able to do so without any deflection or absorption of sound. For men, women and children who live and work nearby, it could become almost impossible to lead a normal life, especially during the busy periods in and around the annual summer holiday season.

While it might be all too apparent to see the need for acoustic barriers at major airports, there are some who might like to see them at some of the smaller facilities as well. You may take one look at places like Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey and Biggin Hill in Kent and think acoustic fencing would be totally unnecessary, but the chances are you might think differently if you lived close to the runways. Though these places generally entertain lighter aircraft, there can still be a great deal of noise generated, especially if there are a number of helicopters located nearby as well.

Acoustic fencing performs an extremely important public service

The next time you drive along a major motorway in the United Kingdom, see if you can spot an occasional line of acoustic barriers close to the carriageway. The chances are there will be some residential housing close by, and the fencing is there to take some of the racket away from neighbours. This type of fencing is a vital ally in the battle against noise pollution, and it can make all the difference during morning and evening peak periods. Just imagine living nearby, and wanting to spend a quiet hour or two in the garden – it might not be as easy or as pleasant as you think.

While these smaller airports tend to handle an increasing number of privately owned small planes and various craft used for pleasure flights, it should be noted that they are still capable of generating a great deal of noise. On especially busy days, such as weekends in the summer, neighbours who like to spend time in the garden may not find it very easy thanks to the constant take-offs and landings. Many of these airfields are former RAF locations which were designed for occasional use, but these days they are used for a very different application.

Can innovative noise barriers reinvent our urban spaces?

As the population of the United Kingdom grows, and our society becomes ever more connected, transport authorities are having to rely on new, innovative ideas such as acoustic barriers to meet the challenges of modern life. As our tired transport networks expand, change and improve, there can often be problems with noise and air pollution that make modern living increasingly difficult. Whilst preserving the well-loved green belts around our busy cities, authorities must consider new places to build roads, houses, hospitals and schools. But noisy, 24-hour motorways and a good night’s rest are often mutually exclusive.

In order to deal with the problems of noise pollution, governments all over the world are turning to sound barriers. Whilst these can be expensive and complicated to install, there are a host of different designs on offer, using a range of different materials like concrete, Perspex and steel to dampen the sound of tyres, tarmac, engines and horns. They can even be used in urban environments, to keep gardens, parks and historic sites peaceful and tranquil. That means that, both in our cities and outside of them, residents can be protected from noise pollution in a range of creative ways.

Well-designed noise barriers can even be used to enhance the aesthetics of roads and urban spaces. Some use insulated windows to provide views of the surrounding countryside and other streets. Other sound barriers are cleverly designed with plenty of evergreen vegetation, which provides a pleasant look while also providing wildlife with a potential habitat. Climbing plants on walls can be an ideal home for birds and insects, and they can also provide insulation from summer heat by protecting the fabric of buildings from ultra-violet light. This can make for a relaxing, tranquil urban environment that everybody can enjoy.

Sometimes called ‘green walls’, there is a downside to these attractive acoustic barriers. They can sometimes require a great deal of maintenance, which may make them unfeasible for authorities whose resources are limited. They can also pose a problem in cities where water is scarce in dry seasons, as they can require complex irrigation systems. Of course, there is also limited space in many of our busiest and most noisy urban areas. In order for the barriers to be effective in reducing decibel levels, they need to be sufficiently tall, wide and long – but planning restrictions can mean that erecting them is impossible.

Redesigning acoustic barriers for the 21^st century

In the past few years, local authorities have introduced a number of innovative schemes to deal with two key problems of modern life – noise pollution and climate change. For example, some road users have seen lines of solar panels spring up alongside dual carriageways and motorways, which are known as Photovoltaic noise barriers. These new designs double up as energy creators and acoustic barriers, shielding nearby residents from the din of traffic. By generating electricity from the sun, they can eventually pay for themselves, and also pump electricity back into the grid. In some instances, the electricity is sold onto local businesses, which has the added benefit of supporting local economies.

Are roadside acoustic barriers the future of the UK’s transport infrastructure? Perhaps not, but the technology is already being used effectively in some European countries like Germany, France and Italy. It was first used alongside a kilometre of a motorway in Switzerland back in 1989. The idea has been heralded as ground-breaking, praised for improving the quality of life of roadside residents whilst making use of available space to combat energy shortages. If used to their maximum capacity, the barriers can help countries towards reaching their targets for CO₂ reductions – this, of course, makes governments more popular with environmental groups.

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Whilst Photovoltaic (solar panel) barriers can eventually pay for themselves with the energy they produce, they can be costly to introduce. Furthermore, they are only appropriate in areas where there is sufficient exposure to sunlight throughout the year - if the area is dark and rainy for most of the year, solar panels will have limited benefits. And, of course, it is much less costly to introduce solar panels to noise barriers that already exist, rather than building new ones from scratch. Some cheaper materials can be used for a low-cost investment, but these may be less efficient and have a lower life expectancy than more expensive materials.

It is, therefore, up to local authorities and governments to decide how to best use sound barriers to benefit local communities, and the country more generally. What is certain is that as our population grows, our road networks expand and our railways become more connected, Britain could become a far noisier place for residents. Up and down the country, more and more people are travelling and moving around - both for work and for pleasure. Not only does that make a good night’s sleep more difficult, but it could mean that our schools, offices, hospitals and shops are less peaceful and less pleasant places to be.