From JILL ROBERTS
Tam Dalyell states that porous asphalt on roads reduces the noise but
requires frequent maintenance (Thistle Diary, 16 May). Have the Transport
and Road Research Laboratory not considered the idea of shredding discarded
tyres into crumb rubber and incorporating this rubber into the asphalt?
The scheme has been adopted in the US where 200 million tyres are generated
each year and 2.8 billion tyres discarded in dumps.
It is estimated that the cost is 20 per cent higher than normal resurfacing,
but the extended life of the road is increased by two to five times and
noise levels are reduced. Also, it solves the problem of tyre disposals
and would provide employment in a depressed area.
Jill Roberts Romsey, Hampshire
