Noise Survey Conclusions
Trinity College offers some of the best and cheapest college accommodation, most of it right in the centre of Cambridge. Trinity College Students’ Union conducted an online survey in June/July 2007 to find out whether people had experienced problems with noise during their stay in Trinity, and asked respondents to briefly describe and rank the disturbance.
This abstract will highlight the main conclusions drawn from the survey responses. The Wolfson Building, Burrell’s Field, Nevile’s Court and Great Court are generally quiet, except for occasional noise from students within college. The other areas of accommodation are exposed to various types of noise, with some rooms severely affected and some not affected at all.
Angel Court
Rooms facing Trinity Street are affected by noise from lorries making deliveries and fetching rubbish in the early mornings. During the day, the general commotion in the street is also moderately noisy. At night, people on their way to or from clubs or bars are a fairly consistent source of noise.
Angel Court rooms could benefit from better double glazing and, in the summer months, from a less rigorous heating system, which currently tends to make some rooms intolerably hot.
Bishop’s Hostel
Rooms facing Trinity Lane are affected by the noise of lorries emptying the bins at Bakehouse Yard and making deliveries to nearby colleges in the early mornings. The air extractor systems connected with the building and Trinity kitchens are also sources of noise.
Blue Boar
I staircase is affected by the noise from Sidney Street. This includes Sainsbury’s delivery lorries and general street noise. In addition, the Sainsbury’s air conditioning system affects some rooms. M, N, and P staircases are exposed to noise from Green Street, including rubbish collection in the early mornings from Gifford Place, shops, music from the Slug and Lettuce bar in the weekends, and noise from revellers on some nights.
Bridge Street 4a
Affected by noise from the street outside.
Bridge Street 6-7
6-7 Bridge Street is affected mainly by noise from commercial properties, including: Cult clothing, which plays music audible in rooms over the shop; Po Na Na, which occasionally hosts noisy events; the Union Society, which organises club nights every Friday and various activities that attract crowds; the Pitt Club which hosts occasional parties; and Pizza Express, which has loud extractor fans. Other sources of noise are the machines in the laundry room, and general commotion on the streets outside. There seems to be a problem with the centrally regulated heating system causing some rooms to be too hot, making it necessary to keep a window open.
Burrell’s Field
Generally peaceful accommodation. Some minor sources of noise are the biannual TCSU parties and the traffic on Grange Road, which affect accommodation close to them.
Great Court
Generally a quiet place to live. A minor source of noise is the chiming of the college clock. K staircase is exposed to some noise from guests to the college bar, while M staircase rooms facing Trinity Lane are affected by passing delivery lorries and revellers passing over the Bridge by Trinity Hall.
Jesus Lane 4a
This accommodation is affected by noise from rubbish collection in the mornings and from the Pizza Express extractor fans.
Nevile’s Court
L staircase is within hearing range of the chiming of the college clock. Otherwise a quiet court except for during specific annual events such as the Chaplain’s Squash and the St. John’s College May Ball.
New Court
N staircase is affected by noise from the kitchen extractor fans. Rooms facing out to the backs are affected some of the time by noise from geese and activities on the backs, including the annual preparations for the May Ball in Easter term. Rooms facing Trinity Lane, e.g. in G staircase, are affected by noise from lorries, revellers at night, and noise from parties in nearby college. In some rooms the heating is not well regulated by college, which forces occupants to keep their windows open. I staircase is affected by noise from the extractor fans on Bishop’s Hostel, and rooms in K staircase are affected by the sound of the bins in Bakehouse Yard being emptied.
Portugal Street
Portugal street rooms are affected from noise from commercial properties, including the Maypole Pub. The fire doors within the building tend to slam loudly, producing some noise.
Whewell’s Court
Whewell’s Court is generally not very well insulated for sound, resulting in several reports complaining that noise from adjacent or upstairs rooms is disruptive. Also, the windows do not block out sound from outside in rooms facing Trinity Street, including from the ongoing construction works. M and N staircase are affected by noise from the Sainsbury’s extractor fans. Some rooms, for example in P staircase, are quiet.
Wolfson Building
The Wolfson Building is very well insulated internally and is situated away from the street, making it generally a quiet place to live. Some noise comes from students passing through Blue Boar Court and from the Sainsbury’s extractor fans.