An acceptable request from Confguide Matera, which asks to lower the tones, volumes and noises of activities which end up giving a bad image of Matera, which should take greater care of “decency” in all its forms: from urban hygiene (the Municipality announced a campaign) to dog excrement by a number of rude people for whom there are neither awareness campaigns nor sanctions, to the transit of noisy and polluting vehicles in the historic center despite the inconclusive speeches on smart, green cities and so on listing. Confguide requests the issuing of an ordinance. But we also need someone to verify its implementation, even in the late evening when the control “services” obviously cease due to organizational needs. The crux is here. Without planning and will you can’t go anywhere. Confguide urges, with an invitation – as they say in Matera – to follow suit…
ON THE ACOUSTIC “DECORATION” OF THE CITY OF MATERA
In the historic center of the city there is a competition for the auditory attention of visitors. A struggle that pits tourist guides against each other as they try to make their customers listen to their explanations; the street musicians who try to entertain them with music in exchange for an offering; some places that play loud music from the speakers between the tables outside.
On the days of greatest influx, this “competition” becomes unsustainable, significantly raising the level of noise pollution, especially in the areas with panoramic views such as Belvedere Guerricchio, Piazzetta Pascoli, Piazza Duomo. This is because more than one competes with “unconventional” weapons. While the number of guides who use portable speakers is fortunately limited, it is now common practice for almost all street musicians to use a portable amplifier to significantly increase the range of their music, even significantly exceeding the decibel limits permitted by law. The Prime Ministerial Decree of 1 March 1991, to which the Municipal Police regulation refers, sets the limit at 50 decibels for “particularly protected areas” such as those of the historic center of Matera, however reaching a maximum of 65 for ” areas of intense human activity”, i.e. those intensely trafficked and home to small industrial activities or such as port areas. Limits which, with all evidence, even purely empirical, are easily overcome by any amplifier.
Moreover, it would be too much to ask that local police officers constantly wander around the city center armed with sound level meters. For this reason we propose that the Municipal Administration simply issue an ordinance that bans any type of sound amplifier that is not used for authorized events, as the Municipal Police regulation already provides for the production of sounds and noises that exceed limits established by law. This would apply as much to tourist guides as to anyone else, with respect for everyone: operators, visitors and residents.
Matera, 05/07/2024
ConfGuide Matera
