The Buddha did advise practitioners to seek out secluded areas to meditate, mostly because calm and insight have to work in tandem for maximum effect. If you can't do that then try them out and see if they help your practice. Anyone who tells you that someone can't meditate with ear plugs in would have to then explain their implied position that a deaf person cannot meditate...
When you practice enough, you'll notice the sounds weren't bothering you but you were bothering the sounds. See if you can develop your practice to the point of not needing them anywhere.