Edgbaston MP has been standing up for residents who have called the noise and pollution in their home “horrendous”
The Parliamentary Health and Standards Ombudsman is carrying out a “full detailed investigation” into the actions of Highways England following the removal of over 100 trees along the M5 in Quinton.
Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, and Quinton residents have been campaigning for a review into the decision made by Highways. In 2021, over a hundred trees which protected 157 homes from the direct noise and air pollution of the M5 motorway were unexpectedly removed.
The trees that were cut down were originally planted when the housing estate was first built in the 1960’s. As traffic on the motorway got busier, the trees matured to provide a natural noise barrier for the residents living on Clay Drive and Chichester Drive in Quinton.
Local resident Melanie Davis has said that the noise from the motorway is so bad that she’s been forced to sleep on her sofa as the sound is now too disruptive in her bedroom. She’s also stated that exposure to the motorway has meant that “it smells like I live in a gas station”.
After the trees were felled, highways assured residents that replanting would take place, noise barriers would be installed, and air quality and noise would be monitored. Some of this has happened like the air testing but there is as yet no noise barrier, and residents say replanting has not met expectations.
Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, said:
“I’m glad to see that the PHSO is conducting a full detailed investigation into the reckless actions of Highways England.
“After thoughtlessly cutting down trees without consulting residents, Highways made promises to residents that they simply have not kept.
“Residents have suffered long enough without proper compensation. The sound and air pollution that my constituents are experiencing must be rectified. I look forward to reading the PHSO’s findings once they are published.”
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