Road & rail noise map for Westhoughton
Town in Bolton, North West
We analysed 787 postcodes in and around Westhoughton, Bolton against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 32% of them (249) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 68% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at BL5 3LR (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Noise map of Westhoughton
How many postcodes are affected?
Road noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | 17% (136) | 9% (69) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 10% (81) | 8% (65) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 4% (30) | 2% (16) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | <1% (2) | 0% (0) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 68% | 81% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | <1% (4) | <1% (1) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 99% | 100% |
Share of the 787 postcodes within ~5 km of the Westhoughton centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Westhoughton
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: BL5 3LR · BL5 1BE · BL5 1BD · BL3 4RN · BL3 4RJ · BL3 4SX
What this data does — and doesn't — cover
- Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
- Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
- No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
- 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.
More detail on the methodology page.
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Nearby areas
Frequently asked questions
- How noisy is Westhoughton?
- We analysed 787 postcodes in and around Westhoughton, Bolton against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 32% of them (249) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 68% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at BL5 3LR (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
- Where is the most road noise in Westhoughton?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Westhoughton are BL5 3LR, BL5 1BE, BL5 3EH, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.