environmental effects of by-passing small towns - case studies at boughton, dunkirk and bridge

a series of case studies is being carried out to measure the environmental effect of different levels of traffic on communities through which it passes. the response of these communities to changes in the physical characteristics of traffic is also being measured. the present report describes conditions on the a2 trunk road in kent where it passed through boughton, dunkirk and bridge. the change in physical conditions and public attitudes to nuisance after by-passes had been built at these locations was also measured. the three towns were selected as examples of small towns where local generation of traffic would be slight and consequently physical changes after the opening of the by-passes would be large. in fact, there was over 80 per cent decrease in vehicle flow and over 13 l10 db(a) decrease in noise levels. the relationship of the nature and level of nuisance to those changes is quoted.(a)