Frustration with the levels of air and noise pollution has led to a group of Monmouth residents forming an action group to try to get a noise barrier erected alongside the A40.

The group, numbering about 50 and gathering momentum following an article in the Beacon, have approached the Welsh Government and Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) to try to determine the monitored levels of noise and air pollution, but are not happy with the response so far and have written to the responsible Welsh minister, Edwina Hart, to try to get a 2007 proposal for a noise barrier back on the agenda.

More than 20 residents attended Monmouth Town Council's Environmental Affairs Committee meeting on Monday night (19th August) and spokesman Brian Ramsey made an impassioned plea for the support of councillors in their attempts to get definitive figures on the quality of the air and noise pollution levels close to the A40.

"We are concerned the Welsh Government is abdicating their responsibilities and in breach of EU directives, for which the fines are limitless, and that MCC may also be in breach as well.

"As a group we would like some short-term amelioration measures, but with long-term consideration for the complete reduction in the traffic travelling down the M50 to the M4 using the A40 – a designated heavy goods route.

"We believe the amount of traffic is far more than the M50 and certainly the 1935-designed A40 was meant for, because there is local traffic as well."

The group feel that the 'prison image' barrier that the previous proposal evoked can be addressed at the design stage, and pointed out that the current noise barrier serving Beech Road is not that noticeable, "there are lots of ways it could be blended".

The measures they would like to see implemented are:

• remove the heavy road designation on the A40

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• impose weight limits

• the imposition of a policed speed limit

• provision of a noise reduction surface

• traffic calming measures such as rumble strips outside residential areas – from the east before the Dixton roundabout and from the west before Gibraltar tunnels.

Mr Ramsey said: "I have just found out tonight that as a result of the surveys conducted into the proposal for a biomass unit on Hadnock Road, air quality measures were taken and apparently the levels were exceeded in four different sites around Monmouth, so we firmly believe air quality is below standard, certainly with standing traffic; we have concerns that the underpass underneath the A40 – a designated safe route to school from Wyesham – would have high levels of particulates of hydrocarbons and heavy metals, as well as nitrogen and sulphur oxides in excess of agreed standards sinking down from above.

"We would like the Environment Committee to consider supporting residents to pressure the Welsh Government and MCC to investigate fully what issues affect the A40 in Monmouth.

"It is interesting that, as a result of the article in the Beacon last week, [31st July], we have had contact from people much further away and who have come forward to support our campaign," he added.

"Apparently, the surveys from the biomass plant were made available to the Welsh Government and MCC and we are likely to put forward a Freedom of Information request to find out exactly what the results of the survey were."

The committee decided to support the residents in their investigation.

Following the meeting, Mr Ramsey said: "We are pleased that the Town Council Environment Committee have decided to support our requests to the county council and Welsh Government.

"We have approached both organisations and asked them for their help to address the noise and air pollution problems and the support of the town council at grassroots level is very important."