David Ruffley has strongly criticised the limited proposals for acoustic barrier installation work outlined in the Highways Agency report on noise hotspots along the A14 in Bury St Edmunds as being 'too little, too late'.

David has been sent a copy of the report: Noise Hotspots- A14 Bury St Edmunds Bypass- Review of RPS Report 2001 published by the Highways Agency.

This report sets out proposals to install acoustic barriers on two sections along the A14 through Bury St Edmunds at Creed Walk and Thingoe Hill. But work will not start until 2009/2010 and the Highways Agency still awaits final agreement to funding by the Government.

In addition, cuts have been made to the original recommendations by consultants RPS in their 2001 report. Only two or the four noise barrier proposals made by RPS will go ahead.

Sites at Eastgate Street and Newmarket Road will not get acoustic barriers. Residents in these roads will have to wait for the eventual resurfacing of the A14 with a low noise material. And Government Ministers have stated that no funding will be allocated for the resurfacing of the A14 with low noise material ahead of maintenance need.

David said: 'I have been lobbying the Highways Agency for years on behalf of my constituents whose lives are blighted daily by noise from the A14. This report is a severe blow to their hopes for a quieter life. With traffic volumes increasing the noise nuisance they suffer can only get worse.

'This is a blatant cost cutting exercise at the expense of my constituents and even the currently recommended schemes still await funding approval by the Government. I am writing to the Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Transport, asking for an assurance that funding will be approved. I am also requesting that Eastgate Street and Newmarket Road be reinstated as sites for acoustic barriers in the future. My constituents deserve no less.'