TRAFFIC noise from the busy M6 motorway has prompted one Lancaster couple to start a campaign calling for a change in the road's surface. John and Lynne Cox live on Ascot Close in the Newlands area of Lancaster, close to the M6. They have written to the city's MP, Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman, as well as city and county councillors asking for support. The Cox's want pressure put on the Government's Highways Agency which looks after the country's motorways. They say that a change in road surface from the current 'hot rolled' asphalt to 'porous' asphalt would decrease the noise coming from the motorway.

John Cox told the Citizen: "There is no break in the traffic these days, the noise is just non-stop. We have lived here for 20 years and things have definitely got a lot worse. It spoils the enjoyment of our home and garden."

Porous asphalt is smoother than the existing M6 surface and contains more air to help with drainage keeping water off the road.

In a statement sent to various authorities, Mr Cox explained: "Trials have shown that compared with hot rolled asphalt surfaces, porous asphalt is quieter by about four decibels in dry conditions and up to eight decibels in the wet.

"A reduction of three decibels is equivalent to either halving the volume of traffic or doubling the distance of the listener from the road. On a section of the M4 in Wales laid in 1993, porous asphalt is recorded to have reduced traffic noise by 85 per cent."

The M6 between Galgate stretching up to the university is set for resurfacing with the noisy hot rolled asphalt later this year. Lynne and John are calling on fellow residents to join the campaign to get that work done with the quieter surface.

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