'Unbelievable' noise on A38 prompts Amber Valley MP Nigel Mills to call for action
A CAMPAIGN to reduce noise on the A38 through Amber Valley has been backed by residents.
MP Nigel Mills has collected more than 300 signatures on a petition following complaints from householders in the area about the noise.
His campaign comes after an assessment by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs revealed two sites in Alfreton and a site at Coxbench and Rawson Green were "priority" areas where noise impact needed to be assessed.
Now, Mr Mills is calling on the Highways Agency to put noise-reducing surfaces on the road and Amber Valley Borough Council to install noise barriers to help tackle the problem.
With every new aerial installed by AMC aerials I will fit an extra point in your bedroom or kitchen for an extra £10
New aerials fitted from £70
Call Adrian on 01332 418856
Terms: Must be an aerial supplied and fitted by AMC aerials
Contact: 01332 418856
Valid until: Friday, July 12 2013
He said: "Traffic is increasing and lorries are getting bigger. It is a real blight for some people in this area.
"There are places where the noise is unbelievable."
A Highways Agency spokesman said: "We have assessed the noise levels on the A38 by Coxbench Road and Horsley Lane and sent a copy of our report to Amber Valley Borough Council.
"This report identified that the A38 in this location should be resurfaced with low-noise surfacing.
"This will be done when the existing road surface reaches the end of its serviceable life, which could be between 2014 and 2020."
But Mr Mills said action needed to come quicker.
He said: "The Highways Agency has outlined its proposals for noise reduction, but this only includes noise-reducing road surfacing, and there hasn't been any money allocated, nor has there been a time scale given for the works past an indication that it will be completed when resurfacing is required.
"We are trying to push the issue up the agenda.
"It seems this is the only way we are going to get quick progress."
Linda and Chris Elkin, of Nottingham Road, Alfreton, have lived next to the A38 since September 1988.
Mrs Elkin, 55, said: "When we first moved here we thought the A38 was fantastic as it was easy to get to work.
"Overnight you would barely hear anything. But now the noise is so loud we have to put the TV to unacceptable levels."
But, despite the noise from the road, Mrs Elkin said she did not want to move from her home.
"I love where I live," she said. "The A38 is fantastic if I need to go anywhere but we need something to be done now about the noise."
3 Comments
by RobJM
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 4:01PM
“I also live near the A38 and have a lot of sympathy for the Elkins. It's a fact that traffic has increased drastically on all our roads over the last couple of decades and increases in the size of lorries (to fall into line with Europe) will also result in more noise. My biggest problem with the A38 though is the noise caused by cars and motorbikes with noisy exhausts being driven at excessive speeds. The noise generated by a powerful motorbike with a 'straight-through' exhaust at high speed can be shocking, especially in the early hours. It's high time that these selfish and inconsiderate motorists and motorcyclists were brought to heel. I don't have a problem with motorbikes or performance cars in general but people who have modified their vehicles and made them very noisy with no thought for other people are selfish in the extreme and need prosecuting. Doing this would help in some way to making our motorways and A-roads quieter, safer and probably cut pollution too.”
by towercrane
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 3:43PM
“I use motorways all the time and find them very good and that was a facter when buying our house but i didnt go out and buy one within a mile of one, it takes 2 min to drive a mile and be on the motor way. Dont buy a house next to a bypass if you dont like noise. You cant expect every one else to pay for your oversightedness”
by peterdhare
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 12:58PM
“I have every sympathy with the residents suffering from the noise of the A38 (and apologise for my occasional contribution to it) but caution them not to expect too much reflief from noise barriers.
I was peripherally involved with these systems in the Netherlands and we came to recognise that their function is to protect the road or rail-line from the noise of voters living nearby and not the other way round.
Noise-reducing surfaces are fine. So would be the imposition of a 50 mph limit (or even the average-speed camera enforcement of existing limits) but these would be politically difficult since they would tend to reduce capacity and increase congestion (although they would also reduce exhaust emissions which would be politically attractive).
My advice, such as it is, would be to press for these latter solutions and not to be fobbed-off with ineffective, but easily erected and highly visible, barriers.”