Stokenchurch residents who have complained about “ugly” motorway noise barriers fear the four-metre tall structures are also flammable – as video footage emerges of a homeowner struggling to put a fire out from a piece of the material. 

The £3.3 million project to install the barriers in several locations along the M40 has had mixed reviews from residents living nearby – with some living in Stokenchurch branding it like a “prison wall” in last week’s Bucks Free Press. 

The new noise barriers – which are still being constructed in areas including Lane End, Loudwater and Wooburn Moor – were highly-anticipated by dozens of households amid promises from Highways England that they would cut out excess noise from the motorway.

However, despite claims from Stokenchurch residents that the new barriers have not helped the noise situation, a new concern has arisen – that the barriers are flammable and “unsafe”. 

In video footage taken by a homeowner in Stokenchurch, an excess piece of the barrier can be seen on the grass, with flames emanating from the end. 

Despite three attempts to put the flames out with jugs of water, the flames keep returning – prompting concerns about safety. 

Speaking about the footage, resident Diane Howard said: “We picked up a discarded strip of the barrier and actually set it alight with a match. It burned quickly, gave off really strong fumes and was really hard to put out - we only let it burn for a few minutes and it took five jugs of water before it would go out. 

“This four metre barrier is literally six or seven metres from the back of our bungalow - if it caught light I hate to think what would happen.”

A Highways England spokesman said the barriers are safe and have met all the necessary standards for safety. 

He said: “We would like to reassure residents that all the materials we are using to install new sound barriers along the M40 meet rigorous safety standards. 

“They have passed all relevant fire tests and are CE certified.”