HC Deb 20 April 2004 vol 420 cc454-5W
Tony Baldry

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to discuss the issue of noisy roads. [166188]

Mr. Jamieson

I am in regular contact with the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency on issues concerning noisy roads. I have recently agreed the Highways Agency's Business Plan for 2004–05, which includes a commitment to resurface 50 lane kms of concrete road surface with lower noise surfacing. In addition, all maintenance work carried out on flexible road surfaces now uses quieter road surfaces.

Mr. Watson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the use of ripple print pads on road services to reduce (a) accidents and (b) noise. [166835]

Mr. Jamieson

The Department has been monitoring the effects of installing rumblewave surfacing (marketed as Rippleprint by Prismo Limited) at seven pilot sites. An initial report has been published by TRL Limited (TRL Report 545Development of a novel traffic calming surface "Rippleprint"), and I have placed copies of this report in the Libraries of the House. A final report will be published later this year.

Mr. Watson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sound-absorbing concrete in reducing traffic noise. [166849]

Mr. Jamieson

The Highways Agency is keeping in touch with developments in Europe on work on noise absorbing concrete. In general, porous concrete has been shown to have similar noise absorbing properties to porous asphalt, with the same disadvantages of high cost and loss of benefit over time as the pores become clogged. Initial trials in European countries of a new surfacing using a resonant cavity formed in concrete below porous asphalt, have given lower noise reduction benefits than expected.

Mr. Watson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on roadside noise barriers in each of the last 10 years. [166850]

Mr. Jamieson

Figures for the last 10 years are not available. Spend on noise barriers that are provided in conjunction with highway improvement scheme is not separately identified in the scheme cost. Spend on the installation of noise barriers provided retrospectively on older trunk roads that commenced in 2000, has been met by the £5 million per year ring-fenced allocation.