The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health says that noise complaints to UK environmental health officers have "dramatically escalated" during the 1990's. They rose from 200 per million of population in 1971 to 5,051 per million in 1996/97. Almost half of the UK's environmental chief officers told the NSCA's noise survey that complaints about amplified noise are increasing in their areas.

Experts believe extended exposure to noise has ramifications beyond stress and quality of life. Of particular concern is what happens to children. Twenty-five years ago, Bronzaft conducted what is now considered a landmark study. She went into a New York City school located beside an elevated train and compared students in the noisy and quiet areas of the building. Bronzaft discovered that children in the noisy side of the school lagged a year behind in their reading abilities. After the school corrected the acoustical problems, the students eventually caught up.

Other studies have found noise also can cause physiological and psychological changes. Researchers found that exposure to aircraft noise raised blood pressure and stress hormones in children and contributed to a feeling of helplessness. Language development, too, is slowed by noise exposure, one study found.

"Noise is definitely a major source of stress for human beings," says Gary Evans, a professor of design and environmental analysis at Cornell University who has been involved in noise studies. He points out that a quiet environment is always one of the top five factors chosen in quality of life studies. Even people who think noise does not bother them may, in fact, be affected. In a study of open office spaces, workers who claimed not to be bothered by the clamor had elevated stress hormones and increased cardiovascular activity.
 

Supermarkets

Presenting a complaint to the head office is more effective than complaining at a local level. In the following pages I will give information about how to contact the head office of the companies listed, all of which are guilty of using muzak in their outlets as company policy. Please send your complaints about the presence of muzak in these outlets to the following addresses:

The following chains almost never have piped music:

John Lewis/Waitrose

Tesco (although Tesco does not use muzak in the grocery areas of the shop other areas can be annoying and some branches play muzak at unacceptable levels so that it infiltrates the rest of the space. You should always complain about this - the store will supply you with envelopes to make a prepaid complaint to head office).

Sainsbury’s

Booths

The following chains do play intrusive muzak and should be avoided:

Safeway UK Company Website

Safeway seems to be in the process of installing muzak in all its UK stores. You can send an email directly from the main website at:

http://www.safeway.co.uk/

Safeway also has a Customer Services line on 01622 712987, and lines are open Monday to Friday 8am-6pm.
 

Somerfield

In 1999 Somerfield took over the Quik Save chain, and a high proportion of these sites played muzak, often at high volume. Somerfield seems to have taken over this approach to marketing. If you wish to complain you can send an email directly from the Somerfield website at:

http://www.somerfield.co.uk/indexb.asp?2

You can also contact Somerfield by phone, fax, telex and post:

Somerfield Stores Ltd., Somerfield House, Whitchurch Lane, Whitchurch. BS14 OTJ. Tel. 0117 9359359. Fax. 0117 9780629. Telex. 44313.
 

Co-op Supermarkets

You will find that many co-op supermarkets have muzak. Complain to: FREEPOST MR 9473, Manchester M4 8BA or Co-op Head Office, Sandbrook Park, Sandbrook Way, Rochdale, Yorkshire. OL11 ISA.

 

Asda

You can make a complaint from the company website at:

http://www.asda.co.uk/

or send an email: customer.services@asda.co.uk