The line graph explains the number of complaints from Newtown citizens to

the Environmental Health Office from 1980 to 1996 regarding noise pollution. There

are noticeably different trends in the amount of complaints received due to noise

caused by various urban manmade activities; road works, traffic, factories and

domestic activity. The data shows us that between these two dates the number of

complaints to the authorities changed considerably.

The number of complaints logged from factory noise rose steadily between

1980 and 1982. After 1982 they increased slightly until 1986. From then onwards,

the number of complaints remained relatively stable. Complaints received from

Traffic noise were the least amongst the four categories at 300. There was very

little change between 1980 and 1988 where it continued to be the lowest, actually

falling to 200. In 1988, however traffic noise complaints began to rise until it

reached 600 by 1996. Complaints received about road works has an opposite trend

when compared to the other three categories. It was quite high at over 600

complaints in 1980, dipping continually until less than 100 complaints in 1996.

Lastly, complaints regarding domestic noise were 500 in 1980 and followed the

same general trend and those complaints about traffic noise. In 1988 they rose

dramatically to reach a peak of 1200 complaints by 1996. Overall, the data shows

us that in 1980 complaints were moderately low averaging around 500 but by 1996

there were almost no complaints about road works and the majority of all complaints

were regarding domestic noise.