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London may get louder

London could be allowed to party louder and later with the possibility of changing noise bylaws. City council met on Monday night to discuss raising the noise limit from 90 decibels to 105 decibels and pushing quiet hours later than 11 p.m. for special events.

Dale Henderson, counselor for Ward 9, needs more convincing these changes are in the best interest of Londoners. “I want to hear the rationale and I’m not interested in 1 o’clock personally [...] I think there will be some more people unhappy if we go longer or go louder.”

Henderson is interested in a more moderate change and said the current discussion within city council is about asking questions. “We’re trying to make the city function the best we can.”

According to the Galen Carol Audio website, 90 dB is comparable to a train whistle at a 166-metre distance, and 105 dB is like a chainsaw one metre away.

According to Patrick Searle, vice-president of university affairs for the University Students’ Council, “The USC encourages the city to adopt a more realistic noise bylaw that reflects the wants and needs of its population.” He said that the USC’s measurement of O-Week’s loudest sounds hit about 88-92 dB, but the USC’s measurement often varies from the London police readings.

To avoid any bylaw violations, the USC purchases a special permit from the city each year in anticipation for O-Week noise. All the events held on campus during that week are an exception to the noise by-law with this permit. This permit is different from what is  used for other events across London. London’s accommodations for Western’s O-Week is an advantage to all parties, according to Searle, because it encourages the USC to keep their events on the Western campus and keeps first year students on campus in a central location for this week.

Searle emphasized it is important for London by-laws to accommodate everyone. “Our students, just like many citizens in London, do not go to sleep at 11 p.m. A bylaw that respects both the reality of a population that enjoys entertainment well into the night, and the population that doesn’t, would help London reach its potential.”

Nicole D’Alessandro, vice-president of student events for the USC, said there is no way this potential bylaw change could negatively affect O-Week events. “If this bylaw was to change, this would be good for the program [...] the better the entertainment we can offer on campus, the more students that stay for it and we believe that it’s better to keep our first-years on campus than off campus.”

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