Villagers campaign against Winchester smart motorway plans

Residents in Compton say it is dangerous and they are unhappy that trees and vegetation will be removed, potentially increasing noise pollution.

A coroner in Yorkshire criticised the ‘smart’ concept after two men were killed on a stretch with no hard shoulder.

Highways England has started preparatory work including vegetation clearance.

One villager, who asked not to be named, said: “The clearance of trees between Eastleigh and Winchester is untenable. It will escalate noise and pollution.

“Motorway noise has gotten increasingly bad these last few years and it is the children in local schools and our villages that suffer. A conversation should be opened now regarding proper noise barriers too - the existing barriers are woefully insufficient.”

Catherine Upton, of Compton, said: “Given the latest investigation into the safety record of ‘smart motorways’ so far work to prepare for the stretch between Junction 9 and 14 should be delayed.”

City councillor Eleanor Bell said: “Widening the motorway, removing vegetation, which serves as a noise barrier, green lung and wildlife corridor, is a very retrograde step.

“We call on Highways England to stop the so called ‘upgrade’ of the M3 Jns 9-14 whilst the inquest verdict is being considered.”

A Highways England spokesman said: “In March 2020 the Government published a smart motorway evidence stocktake report and found that in most ways smart motorways are as safe as, or safer than, conventional ones. The M3 smart motorway continues to offer safe and reliable journeys to the drivers who depend on it every day.”

Highways England project manager Usamah Khalid said: “We are committed to delivering this upgrade of the M3 to the highest environmental standards and this includes how we work when we have to clear vegetation.We understand the value that vegetation and wildlife has and how people feel about them and we only remove them when absolutely necessary.”

Main construction work is due to start in August.