BUSINESSES are being asked for their opinions on a noisy stretch of road.

The concrete stretch of the A419/A417 dual carriageway near Latton has been tormenting residents since it was first built in 1998.

The A419NAG is made up of local residents and councilors who want the Highways Agency (HA) and Road Management Services (RMS), which built the road and manage it on behalf of the HA, to resurface the noisy section with quieter tarmac.

Last year, the group surveyed 500 residents and it said the findings showed that the road is having a real impact on people’s lives and health.

Now, the group is seeking feedback from businesses located near the busy highway by asking them to fill in an online survey.

Paul Hodgkinson, chairman of the group and a Gloucestershire County Council councilor, says the aim of the new survey is to find out whether the road noise is impacting on the local economy.

“Last year’s report made uncomfortable reading for the authorities. Highways have taken it seriously and met with us but have said that it is the economic impact which could help push the Government to act.

“So now we want to find out how the road noise affects businesses located close to the concrete section of the A417/A419. We’ve set up a pilot online survey and have approached some firms along the stretch of the road to see if the noise is also an issue for them, their staff and customers.

“Once we’ve got the results of the pilot we will roll out the survey out to a wider area along the dual carriageway and will publish the findings in a report later this year.

“Our aim as always is to show that there is an issue here with this road which needs addressing. It must be solved before the improvements to the Air Balloon roundabout come on stream as those much-needed changes will inevitably lead to more traffic along the whole stretch of the road further south.”

The survey can be accessed at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/A419NAGBusinessSurvey/. It will be available to complete online until July, 31 2015.