Agenda item

Question

What measures are being put in place to minimise noise and air pollution from the M4 specifically the elevated carriageway to the west of Junction 10?  I am a resident of Winnersh and, since having my baby, have become increasingly concerned with the air and noise pollution coming from the M4 and A329.  The M4 around here is on an elevated carriageway with no noise or pollution barriers in place.  I believe this is very detrimental to the health and wellbeing of local residents. I would like to petition the council and highways agency to implement acoustic barriers along the raised section of the M4.  I'd like to propose that these barriers be coated in photocatalytic paint or concrete to assist in reduction of pollution. In my opinion this work should be carried out in a joint effort to manage the impact of the M4 Smart motorways scheme and the Air quality management plan that Wokingham is required to undertake.

Question

What measures are being put in place to minimise noise and air pollution from the M4 specifically the elevated carriageway to the west of Junction 10?  I am a resident of Winnersh and, since having my baby, have become increasingly concerned with the air and noise pollution coming from the M4 and A329.  The M4 around here is on an elevated carriageway with no noise or pollution barriers in place.  I believe this is very detrimental to the health and wellbeing of local residents. I would like to petition the Council and Highways Agency to implement acoustic barriers along the raised section of the M4.  I'd like to propose that these barriers be coated in photocatalytic paint or concrete to assist in reduction of pollution. In my opinion this work should be carried out in a joint effort to manage the impact of the M4 Smart motorways scheme and the Air Quality Management Plan that Wokingham is required to undertake.

Answer

It is simplest to address this in three parts, the impact of the M4 Smart Motorway, noise impact of M4/A329 and air quality impact of M4/A329 as the legislation and areas of responsibility are different.

M4 SMART Motorway Project:

As a Council we raised concerns about traffic modelling and requested that Highway’s England go above and beyond normal requirements for noise mitigation. The Secretary of State concluded in Sept 2016 that:

• The Enhanced Noise Mitigation Study had been applied consistently throughout the proposed development and an overall minor improvement in the noise environment would result from low noise surfacing and the provision of acoustic fencing, and
• There would be no significant effect on air quality and the development would be at low risk from non-compliance with the EU Air Quality Directive. However, it was accepted that there were uncertainties in precise traffic forecasting which may mean that the ability of local authorities to comply with EU air quality objectives may be impacted upon. In light of this, the Secretary of State imposed a requirement within the Development Consent Order to ensure that Highways England monitor actual concentrations of NO₂ and if there is a worsening of air quality then mitigation must be prepared in consultation with the relevant LPA.

Current Air Quality Monitoring:

The Environmental Health Team has responsibility for the monitoring of air quality. We monitor for Nitrogen Dioxide in over 50 locations across the Borough.  Only one location in Winnersh has exceeded the Annual National Air Quality Objective since 2011.

Details are on the website.

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/health-and-safety/environmental-health/ and clicking on Air Quality.

The M4 itself is an air quality management area and measurements show compliance with the objective.

Noise:

The Council does not have the powers to deal with noise from road traffic under nuisance legislation.  Noise is a consideration when assessing development control applications and there is a specific noise policy which developers should have regard to. 

Noise maps of major transport sources (M4, A329(M) and A329) have, however, been created by independent consultants on behalf of DEFRA.

In locations with the highest noise levels nationally an action plan (produced by the noise making authority) is needed to address noise issues, and these are assessed by the Environmental Health Team. Seven action plans have been received by the Team relating to the M4 which include suggestions such as low noise road surfaces and new or extended barriers.