NOISE pollution from the M25 can only get worse. That was the message sent to the MP for South West Hertfordshire this week.

MP David Gauke has called for the Highways Agency to do more about tackling noise levels caused by the M25.

Mr Gauke and Chorleywood councillor Leonard Spencer met representatives of the Highways Agency last year and discussed the plans for widening the M25.

The stretch of the M25 between Junctions 17 and 18 is close to a large number of homes and the Highways Authority recognised that this was an area where a low-noise surface was necessary. Highways Agency maps showed that such a surface was already in place but, on visiting the Junction 18, even its engineers questioned whether this was the case.

However, the Highways Agency sent a letter to Mr Gauke this week saying noice reducing tarmac was in place - indicating it could do little more to reduce noise.

The letter said: "We confirm that the surfacing material on both sides of the carriageway at Junction 18 is predominantly a low noise surfacing material with small areas of hot rolled asphalt on the anti-clockwise carriageway."

Mr Gauke said that he was disappointed at the response and pledged to continue to fight for local residents not to be disturbed by traffic noise.

He said: "I have written again to the Highways Agency asking for them to look at this again. If the M25 is to be widened, and given that so many people live within earshot of the motorway in this area, we need to have a surface which keeps the noise down to a minimum."