HC Deb 25 June 1997 vol 296 c522W
Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will use the M20 between junctions 3 and 5 to test the new quieter road surfaces developed by his Department. [5136]

Ms Glenda Jackson

When the M20 between junctions 3 and 5 needs attention as part of planned maintenance, the possibility of using it to test novel forms of quieter road surface developed by the industry will be considered.

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide noise barriers on the M20 between junction 3 and 5. [5135]

Ms Jackson

It is not possible to justify the expenditure of public funds on providing noise barriers along this section of the M20. As this would mainly be of benefit to people who either bought property in the vicinity of the M20 in full knowledge of the noise from traffic, or were compensated for the loss of value of their property when the road was first built, in anticipation of the growth of traffic on it.