February 27 1976

A REDDITCH high school will have to rely on 'sound barriers' to keep the noise of the £60 million Alvechurch Highway outside the classroom.

A spokesman for the Hereford and Worcester County Council said that the 7ft earth embankments were placed to cut down on noise to the Abbey High School and nearby homes.

Construction of the highway, which in places is only 50 yards from the one thousand-pupil school, has already drawn protests from teachers.

A spokesman for the development corporation, who are building the road on an agency basis for the county, said discussion was still taking place about the noise factor.

The county council added that it would be up to the headmaster of the school, Mr Frank Chettle, and the governors, to take up any problem with the education authority when the road opens next year.