June 2010:

Read our 2010 Summer newsletter

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April 2010:

Closer to being quieter

Local action group's proposal to reduce noise from stretches of the M40 moves a step closer following its meeting with Department of Transport (DfT).

Chaired by Wycombe District Council, the local action group M40 Chilterns Environment Group (M40CEG) and representatives from the DfT met to discuss the group's submission under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

Of what is intended to be the first of a series of discussions, the group outlined its submission at the meeting and sought DfT's feedback in order to further improve the chances of the submission.

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February 2010:

After years of campaigning, members of M40 Chilterns Environment Group (M40CEG) received with delight the news that the proposal to quieten stretches of the M40 had moved a step closer to becoming a reality.

After considering over 300 proposals submitted by councils on behalf of their local action groups, the Local Government Association (LGA) short-listed 172 schemes. From that short-list the Secretary of State will evaluate and select the proposals it wants to implement.

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January 2010:

At last, we have made a real step forward, one to which many of you contributed.

In June and July, we distributed questionnaires asking you your experiences and ideas about motorway noise, to help us prepare evidence to support the submission of 'M40 Traffic Noise J3 to J8' to Central Government jointly by WDC and SODC. The volume of responses and the information in them required us to co-opt an extra dozen local people to help with data collection, analysis and reporting. We thank all who contributed to it.

Read our 2010 New Year's Message >

September 2009:

M40 noise survey

Read our latest M40 noise survey >

September 2009:

Read our September 2009 newsletter

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July 2009

Wycombe District Council, with the support of South Oxfordshire District Council are making a submission under the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA), 2006, to the Secretary of State for Communities regarding the 'M40 Noise J3 to J8'

A noise survey in support of this submission has been conducted using a cross section of the communities affected. To date we have had over 800 responses to the door to door survey.

If you have not participated and would like to, and live between M40 J3 and J8 of the M40 then please email us at m40cc@btinternet.com

April 2009

Read our April 2009 newsletter

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April 2008:

M40 Chilterns Environment Group meeting with the Minister for Transport responsible for Roads :

On Wednesday 26th March 2008 Boris Johnson, MP for South Oxfordshire, and David Lidington, MP for Aylesbury, led a delegation from the M40 Chilterns Environment Group to meet the Minister for Transport responsible for Roads, Mr Tom Harris. The delegation consisted of Dr Ken Edwards, Chairman of M40CEG, Tony Giddy of Milton Common and John Thompson of Tetsworth, together with Mr Giles Parker, Chairman of the British Standards Institute sub-committee for Noise Barrier Standards.

The delegation put the case that an opportunity exists, whilst work is carried out on rebuilding the bridges over the M40 at Junction 7 (Milton Common) and Junction 5 (Stokenchurch) during the next two years, to instal effective noise barriers at these locations at a fraction of the normal cost, since road traffic management schemes - normally around 60% of project cost - would already be in place.

This would go some way to alleviating the noise pollution for residents at these locations beside the ill-designed old M40.

The Minister gave a very fair hearing to the proposition, pointed out the considerable discrepancy between the cost estimates provided by the M40CEG and those supplied by his officials from the Highways Agency, and asked that the two groups get together to provide a practical best estimate of costs to allow him to consider the matter further./

December 2007:

Stokenchurch:

Sidney House site Lane End

WDC plans to redevelop this vacant site near the M40 in Lane End for new residential accommodation. Trouble is, it's too noisy for planning permission. Will their solution do anything for people who live nearby and suffer that noise today?

Milton Common

Halcrow has figured out a way of reducing noise at Milton Common for much less than we had first thought. The contractors have agreed to make time for installation of new noise barriers while they are rebuilding the bridge at Junction 7 -saving more money. This opportunity will not recur. The Highways Agency won't do it. What can local residents and local councils do?

Loudwater

Reducing noise from the viaduct is hard because the parapets are not designed to cope with windloading of noise barriers. But what about the centre reservation - a barrier there would at least reduce the noise from one direction of traffic? HA's policy is to instal solid concrete barriers throughout the motorway network. Let's have one on the Viaduct now - it would be safer, and quieter.

Footpath Noise

Did you know that if footpaths near the motorway were commercial premises, users could be required to wear ear defenders to protect against noise? Extraordinary, isn't it, in an AONB?

Safety of Chilterns M40

When they were widening the M40, engineers said the design 'broke every rule in the book'. Its innumerable major and minor accidents cause delays, rat-runs and pollution throughout our area. Maybe the design rules were there for a reason?

Parliament

Our dedicated local MPs at last got a chance to discuss the M40's problems when Paul Goodman (Wycombe) won the ballot for an Adjournment Debate on the subject in October. Next it is the turn of Boris Johnson (Henley), who has arranged a meeting with the Minister of Transport, Tom Harris in January, at the request of Milton Common residents.

July 2006:

MAJOR M40 PRESENTATION TO COUNTY, DISTRICT AND LOCAL COUNCILLORS

In a major presentation hosted by M40 Chiltern Environmental Group, to nearly 40 councillors, including the Chairmen of Bucks County Council and Wycombe District Council, the Highways Agency reported that no special action was planned to address noise from the M40. The Group outlined their objections to the plan.

Many delegates expressed horror at the Highways Agency claim that noise severity was low in the area and said that they would fight for recognition and action to address the issues.

The meeting closed with commitment from Bucks County Councillor, Bob Woollard and Wycombe District Councillor, Jean Teesdale, to take the matter forward with their respective authorities.

June 2006:

M40 CEG rejects conclusions of consultant report on behalf of local residents, requests base data for independent evaluation

May 2006:

Consultant Report "An Evaluation of Nose Hotspots Alongside the M40" finds low Noise Severity Index at all 23 locations examined. Recommends that no specific mitigation is needed.

April 2006:

Preliminary results of subjective noise assessment project is that a significant number report "Appalling" noise levels.