Wokingham Lib Dems Expose Tory Promise of M4 Noise Barrier as a Sham

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th May 2006

Councillor Malcolm Armstrong (Lib Dem Councillor for Winnersh ward) has been pressing the Tory administration to come clean about their promise of noise barriers on the M4 motorway.

Councillor Armstrong says, "The Tories promised us noise barriers on the M4 as long ago as March 2003; then in April 2004 they said they expected to complete the section at the over-bridge at the A329 by September 2005 and the remainder within a further year. To date, not one single inch of noise barrier has been erected.

"During the recent local election campaign, Tory canvassers promised Winnersh residents that the M4 noise barriers WILL be provided. When I asked the Tory Executive member concerned (Councillor Anthony Pollock) when we could expect the barriers to be erected, he told me that there are funds available to provide 350 - 400 metres of noise barrier at Junction 10 of the M4.

"That sounds great, but the Council's own consultants have stated that a barrier in this position would make no difference whatsoever to the noise levels. The Tories appear to be prepared to waste thousands of pounds of Council taxpayers' money on a pointless exercise.

"What we want are noise barriers in positions that will shield our residents from the increasing noise from the M4. Throwing money at a useless barrier is a sign of desperation from the Tories, or sheer incompetence. The Tories should get their act together, take advice from their own consultants, and build us the promised noise barriers in the right places."