The noisiest roads in Brighton and Hove are seriously affecting peoples' quality of life, experts have warned.

New maps, published by the Government, show numerous parts of the city where noise levels are reaching or exceeding national guidelines.

Experts believe children particularly are having their lives blighted by living in areas where decibel levels caused by cars, trains and planes are reaching increasingly high levels.

The maps have prompted calls for immediate action to be taken.

Green party city councillor Keith Taylor said: "It is a massive problem but one that I don't think is being taken that seriously.

"We need to be working towards a significant reduction in traffic in the city centre which would result in a drop in noise.

"There is always going to be noise associated with living in a city centre but these maps show it is reaching excessive levels."

Lib Dem city councillor Paul Elgood added: "We certainly have a problem in my Brunswick ward.

"If we had a 20mph speed limit in the city centre that would certainly go a long way towards reducing noise.

"But there are lots of other sources too. We live with a constant background noise."

The map highlighted the A23, Lewes Road, London Road, the Old Steine and the seafront Kings Road as having particularly high noise levels.

They are either on or regularly going over the 76 decibel level. European guidelines for noise is 76 decibels.

Experts have told The Argus they believe noise levels shown on the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) map are likely to dramatically reduce children's concentration levels and affect the well-being of people of all ages.

Dr James Carter, an expert on noise levels from the University of London, said: "The levels being experienced in Sussex are towards the upper limit of Government guidelines - perhaps even above them in some cases.

"Children living nearby particularly noisy hotspots are likely to suffer major problems concentrating. Adults too could experience major difficulties with sleeping and other problems."

Defra's map show noise levels at both Gatwick and Shoreham airports approaching 75 decibels in some parts.

The recommended daytime limit for airports is 94 decibels - but the Government says people become "annoyed" and "affected" by noise above 57 decibels.

Noise from factories and industrial estates are also reaching or exceeding national guidelines.

One of the worst affected areas on the map, which runs from Littlehampton to Newhaven, is Shoreham.

Its power station, combined with its airport and section of the A27, particularly around the Holmbush roundabout, makes it one of the noisiest places in the county.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "Noise from road transport has, to date, been seen as an issue of less concern than climate change or air pollution.

"But noise is a major environmental issue which affects a large proportion of the population.

"While the effects of ambient noise are rarely life threatening, it can have a considerable detrimental effect on people's quality of life, and may well lead to sleep disturbance and may impact on cognitive development in children."

Brighton Kemptown MP Des Turner said: "Given the amount of traffic we have in the centre of Brighton it's hardly surprising it is noisy.

"I don't think we're as noisy as London yet and because I don't live near a busy road I'm not particularly affected.

"But I have every sympathy with those who do and I can totally understand the worries.

"It is a difficult subject for the Government to tackle because it is a very subjective issue and we are going to have some of the old cars, which make the most noise, around for years to come.

"But I do think it is being taken more seriously now."

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