The contact details of the person with overall responsibility for co-ordinating the response to complaints about the new PA system at London Fields. This is to make sure the relevant member of staff is receiving emails and written correspondence. Job titles of those responsible for overseeing the contract for installation of the new system. Job titles of those involved in installing the system and testing the system and their responsibilities (only in relation to the installation of the new PA system at London Fields). This information is required so it is possible to see the line of accountability between TfL/London Overground and the contractor. Copy of the contract between London Overground (or Transport for London, whichever is responsible for commissioning the installation of the new Public Address system at London Fields station) and the contractor responsible for carrying out the works. • Value of the contract • Value for Money assessments related to the contract if these are contained in separate documents. Date and time when the PA system was activated. Date when London Overground received the first complaint about noise levels at London Fields following the activation of the new system. Number of complaints London Overground received prior to the installation of the new PA system from people complaining that the existing PA system at London Fields was too quiet. Where possible, date complaint was made. Number of complainants and number of complaints received by London Overground about noise/noise nuisance after the date and time when the new PA system was activated (whether complaints made directly to London Overground Complaints team, or complaints made to other individuals or other authorities that were subsequently brought to the attention of the Complaints Team). Do not exclude any complaint which could be conceivably related to the level of noise from the new PA system, even if this complaint does not specifically cite the PA system as the source of the noise nuisance. There is no need to include complaints which are obviously related to another matter (for example, complaints about people shouting in the street). A copy of the impact assessment report (or any document which served as an impact assessment report assessing the effect of noise and noise pollution from the installation of the new PA system at London Fields) conducted prior to the installation of the new system. Results of tests conducted to establish the level of noise from PA systems at London Fields. Please include: • the results of a test conducted prior to the installation of the system (this must demonstrate the db levels of tannoy announcements at London Fields prior to 2017); • the results of a test conducted immediately after activation of the new system, and prior to any complaint being made about noise levels emanating from London Fields station; • results of any tests conducted in order to measure level in dB of the new system after complaints had been received; • Please ensure test information includes date and time test was conducted; dB of ambient or background noise; dB of normal service announcements; dB of statutory announcements as well as information about the precise location of all tests conducted (please do not include generic descriptions eg ’on the platform’ ‘in the street’ – it’s important to understand whether the tests were properly conducted and took into account the differences in noise levels at ground level and above ground level, taking into account where the speakers are located and their proximity to residential properties). Copies of all guidance followed by the contractor and London Overground relating to: • Noise levels and noise pollution • Accessibility (it is only necessary to include guidance specifically relating to pa and tannoy systems) • The frequency and volume of statutory announcements at open stations on London Overground network Please indicate whether the guidance followed was the latest guidance – if not, please provide a copy of the latest guidance. A list of current announcements that London Overground is required by law to broadcast over its PA systems. Please only include details of those announcements that London Overground is specifically obliged to broadcast over a PA. If the law is a general injunction about providing information to customers, for example about service levels, but does not specify that this information must be broadcast over a PA system (and could therefore reasonably be provided by other means – LED displays, station staff, hearing loops, posters etc.) do not list this announcement. Copies of any relevant emails or letters related to remedial measures instituted to reduce or mitigate noise levels at the station following the initial complaint. If TfL considers the letter or email to be irrelevant to resolving this issue please do not provide. Copies of any additional emails or letters that you consider may be relevant as part of future mediation on this issue (for example, this could include acknowledgement of receipt of the impact assessment report; confirmation that TfL accepted the results of any tests conducted by the contractor; any documentation that would indicate TfL’s view on the level of noise indicated in the report). It is important to provide copies of any relevant communication, verbal or written assurances that such communication exists will not be accepted.

---

Our ref: FOI-2712-1718/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 21 December 2017 asking for information about London Overground and tannoy announcements.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and TfL’s information access policy. I can confirm TfL does hold some or all of the information you require.

However, given the extent of the information you are looking for, we are applying Regulation 12(4)(b) as we believe that the request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing the information you have requested would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources.

You have requested approximately 22 separate items relating to the announcements. These include requests such as ‘any relevant emails or letters’ which would require us to search all records over an unspecified timeframe to ascertain whether relevant information is held. These parts of your request alone would take an excessive amount of staff time and resources.

The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services and also help address your particular concerns about this issue. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.

To help make your request more manageable you may wish to consider refining it to those points which are important to you, and where relevant requesting the information for a specific timeframe.

Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, TfL does not have to answer your question if it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at the time of your request. If you have specific questions relating to these topics we may be more easily able to respond to these than to a request for any information held.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

Back to top

---