MEON VALLEY'S MP has pledged to tackle motorcycle noise on two major Hampshire roads. 

George Hollingbery has received an undertaking from the roads minister he will research a solution to tackle motorcycle noise on the A32 and A272.

John Hayes, minister at the Department for Transport, told Mr Hollingbery he will look at ways of capturing noise levels so that motorcyclists breaking the law with illegal exhausts will be caught and held to account.

The problem of excessive noise through villages in the Meon Valley is a major issue with residents.

Mr Hollingbery told of the development during a meeting with parish councillors, the county councillor for the Meon Valley and a South Downs National Parks Authority representative, all called to discuss progress on tackling the problem.

"This undertaking from the Department for Transport is promising news and I hope it will lead to a way to capture noise levels with technology attached to speed cameras because no law should be unenforceable," he said.

"John Hayes has said he will research this possibility and if it is proved possible, he will work to decide on polices for follow up measures.  "This is progress because it was first considered impossible to come up with a technical solution, which I made clear I did not accept.

"We are not there yet, but I was pleased to tell the meeting I had done what I promised by putting pressure on government to look again at a possible solution to this problem."

The meeting at Moorhen Farm Trout Fishery in South Downs National Park, which is affected by the motorbike noise, also heard residents say the priority for traffic officers is road safety and little attention is paid to the impact on the quality of life of residents caused by the illegally motorbike exhausts from some riders.

Mr Hollingbery told the meeting he would seek an update from Hampshire County Council on the cost of installing two average speed cameras as residents have expressed willingness to part fund such a scheme.

"There is mounting frustration from residents about this problem because they feel these minority of riders think they can get away with their anti-social behaviour and I fully understand this," he said.  "Equally, I understand the police do not have the resources to permanently station officers on these roads so a cost-effective technical solution needs to be found."