EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
LDA: The London JESSICA fund will spend £100m on climate change projects in London after a deal was signed last week. JESSICA is the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas fund. By matching the funding from the LDA and London Waste and Recycling Board, JESSICA is effectively doubling the amount of money to be invested in projects such as the low carbon Thames Gateway Heat Network and projects that increase the proportion of waste that is reused or recycled.
As well as regeneration benefits, the investment from JESSICA will promote sustainable & carbon neutral economic growth, combat climate change and help the capital towards its target of reducing London's CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025.
Press release ~ London JESSICA fund ~ Thames Gateway Heat Network ~ Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas
ScotGov: Figures presented at the International Euronoise conference last week conference show that 40,000 domestic noise complaints were made in 2008, compared to about 10,000 a year prior to 2004, when new anti social behaviour domestic noise laws were introduced and councils & police set up and publicised 24/7 call centres to handle complaints.
Loud stereos & televisions, shouting, barking dogs, rowdy parties and DIY are the main sources of complaints.
Press release ~ International Euronoise conference ~ Scottish Noise Mapping ~ Scottish Government Air, Noise and Nuisance Team ~ European Acoustics Association ~ UK Institute of Acoustics ~ 2002 EC Environmental Noise Directive ~ ScotGov – Noise & Nuisance
DfT: UK drivers disqualified for an offence in the Republic of Ireland will no longer escape that punishment when they return home. Likewise, disqualifications earned by Irish drivers while in the UK will be recognised & enforced when they return to Ireland.
The agreement was the first to be drawn up under the terms of the 1998 European Convention on driving disqualifications. The United Kingdom has made a formal declaration to the EU Council to enable the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications with Ireland from February 2010. The EU will confirm the exact date of implementation.
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