If you live close to one of the UK’s many motorways, you
will no doubt be extremely grateful for the existence of acoustic fencing. We
all know that a major road can generate a great deal of noise during any given
day, and without acoustic barriers in place life would be pretty miserable for
those whose houses and flats are located close by. Britain is a somewhat
congested country, especially in areas close to the larger cities, so housing
being located close to motorways is, to put it simply, a fact of everyday life.
The M25, London’s famous and somewhat notorious orbital
road, is a good case in point. When it was first planned, designed and
constructed, the M25 was mainly passing through quieter areas, and on the whole
it didn't have a great effect on the lives of many people. Those who lived
nearby were definitely disadvantaged by the existence of this motorway, of
course, but there were fewer sufferers then than there are now. As the city has
inevitably expanded, so the number of men, women and children who were affected
by the road started to increase dramatically.
These days, a drive right around the M25 will show you that
it touches the lives of thousands of residents in Surrey, Hertfordshire, Essex,
Buckinghamshire and many other counties. If you were a freelance copywriter working from home, to use
an example, the quality of your working environment will have been greatly
diminished. Trying to get important projects off the ground in what was once a
quiet and peaceful place may not have been so easy once the M25 came to town.
Most experts will tell you that the road was needed, of course, but along the
way there has been a great deal of collateral damage.
With a strategically placed collection of acoustic barriers
in place, a great deal of the noise can be absorbed, and this can make the
difference between a bearable existence and an impossible one. We all need to
have some peace and quiet in our lives every now and then, but if you live
close to the M25 you will probably have less of an opportunity for tranquillity
than others. One of the major problems for people who live nearby is that there
are now fewer occasions when the motorway is quiet.
Acoustic fencing can make all the difference
At one time, local residents could at least rely on some
peace and quiet at night, because the acoustic barriers would muffle the sound
of a motorway that wasn't playing host to much in the way of traffic. In recent
years, however, the M25 has become increasingly voluble during the night-time
hours because of a significant amount of roadworks that have been taking place.
In many areas, such as those around Heathrow and those near to Clacket Lane
services, the motorway has been extended by the addition of extra lanes, and
some of this work has taken place at night.
For the long-suffering local neighbours, the din has been
almost unbearable. As well as the noise from the roadworks themselves, the
subsequent lane closures have intensified the sound of the traffic. Rather than
three somewhat empty lanes of cars, vans and trucks, there is often one single
lane of concentrated traffic noise instead. All in all, you have to be a very
patient person if you want to come to terms with living beside the motorway.
These works will end at some point, of course, but that’s only small comfort
for the neighbours.
It may be that during the height of the morning and evening
rush hours, the decibel levels will be at the lower end of the scale. Traffic
can be noisy, of course, but if many of the vehicles are barely moving this
could lead to a little respite for the locals. The sad fact is that the M25 is
already handling many more vehicles than would have originally been expected,
and this figure looks set to rise even further in the years to come.
The M25 is perhaps the most extreme example of how life can
be for those who live nearby, but it’s worth noting that there are many more motorways in Britain
and of course many more people who live close by. The provision of acoustic
fencing is very welcome and much needed, but in truth even the best acoustic
barriers can only do so much. If you are looking to move home in the coming
weeks and months, it might be a good idea to look into the proximity of the
local motorway network before you make a decision about a particular property.
This seems to be a very sensible precaution to take, as it could save you a
great deal of heartache in the long run.
