Would-be MP welcomes new ‘noise action plan’ for roads (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Would-be MP welcomes new ‘noise action plan’ for roads

9:54am Tuesday 13th April 2010 in Politics By Andrew Napier

PRESSURE is being stepped up to force action over noise pollution from Hampshire’s roads and railways.

Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Winchester, Martin Tod, welcomed the new ‘noise action plans’ that require the Highways Agency and the county council to address the issue more speedily.

Mr Tod said: “Now the Highways Agency is out of excuses for delaying quieter surfaces on the M3 and A34. The analysis shows we have serious noise problems from our main roads — amongst the worst in the country.

“Now they have to do something about it. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be immediate, but the Highways Agency is expected to have started the work, or have earmarked the money to start work, no later than April 2011.”

Mr Tod said he would write to the agency to ask it to bring forward its plans.

The map shows the main problem locations in the Winchester area to be Highcliffe, Winnall, Chandler’s Ford, Compton, all by the M3, and parts of Headbourne Worthy near the A34.

But villagers in Compton are furious that the Highways Agency has allegedly reneged on a promise to lay quiter surfacing on the M3.

Villagers says the agency made the promise at a public meeting around 2001-02 at a packed public meeting in Otterbourne.

Nick Campbell-White, chairman of the Compton and Shawford Parish Council, said: “We are up in arms that the promise made seven or eight years ago appears to have been reneged on.

“We believed we were in the next programme for resurfacing.

Apparently the agency now says the resurfacing here is not necessary.”

His wife Margaret said: “The noise is as horrendous as ever.

“We have been fighting the M3 in some way for 30 years.”

Measures the Highways Agency and other highways authorities like Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council are expected to take under the noise action plans, include:

• Erecting noise barriers;
• Installing low-noise road surfaces;
• Local traffic management measures (including limits on heavy trucks at particular times); or
• Improving sound insulation.

What do you think? Are you affected by the noise? Leave your comments below.