Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Surrey: M25 Noise Pollution

17 March 2020 · 2 other contributors · 3,747 words

Opened by Jonathan Lord Con Woking

Responding minister: Kelly Tolhurst

Environment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Jonathan Lord raised concerns about surrey: m25 noise pollution in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The surface of the motorway between junctions 10 and 11 on the M25 consists of concrete blocks causing significant noise pollution affecting residents in Byfleet, West Byfleet, Pyrford, and up to 4 km away.
  • Highways England is working to mitigate noise levels through preventative measures such as barriers and noise insulation, with nine sites already having noise insulation installed and two more pending completion.
  • A trial on the M1 at junction 5 aims to identify materials and techniques for reducing noise from concrete surfaces.

Key requests to Government

The Government should ensure that the section of road between junctions 10 and 11 is fully resurfaced to reduce noise levels within 12 months after the completion of the M1 trial, which aims to test materials and techniques for reducing noise on concrete surfaces.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Jonathan Lord Con Woking

The surface of the motorway between junctions 10 and 11 on the M25 consists of concrete blocks that cause significant noise pollution, affecting thousands of residents in Byfleet, West Byfleet, Pyrford, and up to 4 km away. The repetitive buffeting as tyres pass over expansion joints adds substantially to noise levels. Since 20 years ago when Labour promised to replace or overlay all concrete main roads by March 2011, no plans exist for resurfacing the M25 section in question despite Highways England repairing failed joints and acknowledging residents' concerns.

Other contributors (2)
  • Ben Spencer Con Runnymede and Weybridge

    He reiterated the concerns about noise pollution from the M25 in his constituency, highlighting that cars can be heard a kilometre away from the motorway. He urged the Minister to review proposals for the stretch of the M25 later this year and meet him and another MP to improve the situation.

  • Karl Turner Lab Kingston upon Hull East

    He briefly addressed the importance of reducing noise pollution, mentioning that it affects road safety and causes physical and mental health problems. He suggested investing more in public transport and encouraging electric vehicle use to reduce overall road usage.

Government Response

Kelly Tolhurst

I thank my hon. Friends for securing this debate on the M25 noise pollution issue in Surrey and acknowledge their concerns about road surface quality and its impact on local residents. Highways England is working to mitigate noise levels through preventative measures like barriers and noise insulation, with nine sites already having noise insulation installed and two more pending completion. A trial on the M1 at junction 5 aims to identify materials and techniques for reducing noise from concrete surfaces, expected to conclude in 2022. Highways England remains committed to regular maintenance and innovative solutions to improve road surface conditions and reduce noise levels around the M25.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy