13 April 2007
Local authorities have had to grapple with increasing numbers of complaints about noise pollution, according to the latest survey of social trends.
The Office for National Statistics found that complaints about domestic noise rose almost fivefold over the past 20 years, with loud music and barking dogs the most common. About 60% of local authorities surveyed attributed the rise in complaints to a wider prevalence of 'selfish attitudes' and a 'higher expectation of quiet'.
The underlying theme of this edition of Social trends, published on April 11, was children and young people, and much of the data showed how family structures are changing.
Young adults are also increasingly choosing to stay at home rather than flying the family nest. In 2006, 58% of men and 39% of women aged 20-24 lived with their parents, a far higher figure than in 1991.
Stephen Evans, chief economist with the Social Market Foundation, said: 'Young people are staying at home… they are making a choice to extend their education because they know that they're going to get higher earnings in the long run.'
PFapr2007
