Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data are available on levels of road noise along the A3 between the Hindhead tunnel and Queen Elizabeth country park (a) prior to and (b) since the opening of that tunnel.

Links to the DEFRA 2012 and 2017 strategic noise mapping data for estimated road noise for the A3 near Hindhead Tunnel and Queen Elizabeth country park are provided below. Once the postcode (GU26 6AP) is inserted into the Preview box the data will become live.

Maps were made using computer modelling techniques, based on information such as traffic flow data, road/rail type, and vehicle type data. No actual noise measurements were made in the production of the strategic maps. Therefore, mapping data – although useful - does not necessarily represent an exact picture of the situation on the ground at any given locality.

2012: https://environment.data.gov.uk/DefraDataDownload/?mapService=DEFRA/RoadNoiseLAeq16hRound2&Mode=spatial

2017: https://environment.data.gov.uk/DefraDataDownload/?Mode=OGCPreview&mapService=https%3A%2F%2Fenvironment.data.gov.uk%2Fspatialdata%2Froad-noise-laeq-16h-england-round-3%2Fwms

Following completion of the Hindhead Tunnel, Highways England published an evaluation of the performance of the scheme in 2017, which can be found here. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/782584/POPE_A3_Hindhead_FYA_Report.pdf.

The report indicates that the scheme is performing as expected or better than expected in terms of noise in most locations adjacent to the scheme.

There are 15 Noise Important Areas (NIA) along the A3 between the Hindhead Tunnel and A27. Since 2015, at 11 of these sites, Highways England has delivered noise pollution mitigation schemes. These improvement schemes include low noise resurfacing and providing insulation to affected properties.