Malaga needs to turn down the volume

MALAGA city is noisy, locals complain, and research by the universities of Granada and Almeria backs them up.

Only 2.56 per cent of 1,800 the city’s inhabitants who were interviewed by researchers said their lives were noise-free.

This contrasts sharply with 25 per cent in towns or 17.5 per cent in cities of between 20,000 and 50,000 inhabitants.

Malaga is not exceptional, explained the authors of Noise pollution in Andalucia.

Complaints about noise were habitual in cities of more than 250,000 inhabitants, where a third of the population was exposed to higher levels.

Noise caused by cars, motorbikes, lorries and buses was responsible for 36.5 per cent of Malagueños’ grumbles.

Neighbours, loud televisions, radios and music were blamed by 30.6 per cent.

A further13 per cent complained about roadworks and 11 per cent were disturbed by noise from bars, pubs, discotheques and clubs.

The researchers’ findings bear a direct relation to the 11 formal complaints for every 10,000 of Malaga’s inhabitants.

This is well in excess of national average of seven per 10,000 for large cities and three per 10,000 in smaller cities or large towns.