How loud is too loud to live in the Old Town?

The ruling of the Corfu Court of First Instance, as presented by lawyer Giorgos Kaloudis, is undoubtedly interesting. Not only because it concerns the ongoing problem of noise pollution in the Old Town, but also because it brings a specific numerical limit back into the discussion: 30 decibels.

But this is where caution is needed.

Health Regulation A5/3010/1985 does indeed provide for a limit of 30 dB(A), but for areas designated as “purely residential” and areas under special protection. It is not a general limit that automatically applies to every outdoor space.

And this is where the really interesting question begins: is Corfu’s Old Town an area of purely—or, in today’s planning terminology, exclusively—residential use?

There is no indication that this is the case for the Old Town as a whole. The Old Town is a complex urban environment where residential properties, commerce, restaurants, tourism, services and entertainment coexist. Its designation as a UNESCO monument or historic site does not, in itself, amount to a planning designation of exclusively residential use.

This does not mean that the court ruling is incorrect. It means that, before we attribute a general rule to it for the entire Old Town, we need to know the full reasoning behind the ruling and, above all, what land-use regime applies to the specific location involved in the case.

There is, of course, another side to the issue. The court’s observation, as reported, that the volume of the music can be turned down as soon as the approach of the Police is noticed points to a very real difficulty in enforcement. The protection of residents cannot depend on whether a decibel meter happens to record the right moment.

The problem, therefore, cannot be solved by a number alone.

Corfu needs clear land-use rules, effective enforcement, and regulations that allow the city to live without driving away those who still live in the town.

GIORGOS KATSAITIS