Conservatives turn down Lib Dems' call to tackle noisy roads (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Conservatives turn down Lib Dems' call to tackle noisy roads

April 8, 2009 9:01 AM

Noise of fast-moving traffic disturbs residents near busy roads

A Liberal Democrat motion asking for noise monitoring to be carried out, to find areas badly affected by road traffic noise, was turned down yesterday by the Conservative administration at Oxfordshire County Council.

Cllr Alan Bryden said: "There is no doubt that people's quality of life is badly affected by noise, of which the major source is road traffic noise - and particularly noise coming from tyres on major roads. Residents of Wheatley handed in a petition about traffic noise on the A40, for instance. We sympathise with them. Our motion would have helped them by proving their case for action."

Cllr Dermot Roaf added: "I am surprised by the Conservative administration's refusal to even look at monitoring road noise, in conjunction with District Council partners. We do need to do something to reduce both the amounts and the effect of traffic - but first we need to know which areas of the County are worst so that we can concentrate on them."

Wantage and Didcot spokesman Alan Armitage added: "Parts of the A34 generate excessive noise, which disturbs residents all the time. Much of the new housing in West Didcot, for example, will be close to the noisiest stretches of the A34. This road is the responsibility of central government, who have improved the surfacing further north. If we in Oxfordshire can get together the evidence, then there's at least a chance that government will take action."