The line graph illustrates the frequency of noise-related complaints submitted to Environmental Health authorities in Newtown from 1980 to 1996.
Overall, there was an upward trend in complaints concerning noise from road works, traffic noise, and domestic sources, while complaints about factory noise experienced a notable decline.
In 1980, domestic noise complaints started at approximately 740 and gradually decreased until 1990, when they fell to 200 complaints. Following this period, complaints in this category surged dramatically, reaching a peak of 1,200 by 1996. Traffic noise exhibited a relatively stable pattern throughout the period, beginning with 300 complaints and steadily increasing to 950 by 1996. In contrast, complaints related to road works showed the most erratic trend, starting at 200 complaints in 1980 and escalating to 1,300 by 1996. This made road works the most significant contributor to noise complaints by the end of the period.
On the other hand, complaints about factory noise began at 600 in 1980 and displayed a consistent decline, ultimately dropping to a low of 140 by 1996. The trajectory of factory complaints reveals a steady downward trend, particularly after an initial decrease to 400 by 1986. This consistent decrease over the years sets it apart from the other categories. Therefore, while some categories, especially road works and domestic noise, experienced considerable increases, factory noise complaints saw a significant reduction throughout the 16-year span.