14th Sep 2008

Noise pollution

Poppy rides against more noise on the Tube

The London Underground is sending updates on its speakers policy to Barnet Green Party member Poppy, since she called the company to account over noise pollution at Woodside Park, her local station. Near the beginning of this year, Northern Line stations in Finchley were refurbished, fitting them out with speakers all along both platforms. The incessant announcements relayed over these speakers drove Poppy to send in a 600-word complaint. Since then the company has announced the cessation of all announcements after 10pm and before 7am, a reduction in the volume, and consideration of the problem of simultaneous and clashing announcements on both platforms.

"I'm sure mine was one among many complaints," says Poppy. "But I like to think that it is as articulate and as heartfelt as any."

Despite these concessions, Poppy is not content. "It's yet one more example of an unnecessary assault on our sensibilities that we need to expend energy fighting to ameliorate. I always end my letters to the tube saying I won't be happy till they take the infernal things away."