MADAM, in November 2007, Herefordshire Southern Planning Committee gave approval to create a roundabout on the A40 at the Tanyard Lane site, and for legal reasons, the work has to be started within three years.

Without regard to the future roundabout, the original assessment of traffic noise on this building site had been undertaken by WSP Acoustics in October 2004. It found a high level of traffic noise then, just below unacceptable, and considered the option, for the required noise reduction measures, of Persimmon building a row of houses (with small gaps between) all along the road, to protect the rest of the site. Its public report did not refer to any relationship with Persimmon.

However, the approval for the roundabout became dependent on also protecting from increased noise existing properties on estates higher up the A40 hill.

The roundabout planning application was made by 'Persimmon Homes (South Midlands) Ltd, WSP Developments and Transportation, One Queen's Drive, Birmingham, B5 4PJ'. It included a memorandum from WSP Acoustics to Persimmon, apparently appearing for the first time as connected to it, saying that it could only theoretically assess the new levels, that noise from acceleration of vehicles from a standstill on the hill would be less than their earlier measurements of noise from vehicles cruising up it, and that no protective measures were necessary.

I cast doubt on this strange logic at a meeting at the time, and planning approval was given on the conditions that new measurements would be taken before speed limits were imposed for construction to begin; and again after construction; and protective measures introduced if noise levels increased. Please may I use your pages to send a message to the Herefordshire Council Chief Planning Officer?

Please would he write and let us know: When were the new noise measurements taken? Were they by an independent firm and checked by Herefordshire officers? What were the results? If less than the original measurements, has the site been redesigned? When is construction due to start? How much public notice will be given? And has any of this information been publicised before?

It may be these matters are seen as important enough that there should be time for affected parties to arrange their own readings now, because otherwise future complaints will be refutable as unsupported matters of opinion.

Brian J Edwards, Ross