THE Welsh Assembly government has hit back at claims that residents will have to endure increased traffic noise from a multi-million pound highways project.

A councillor has claimed people living close to the Warren Hall business park in Broughton could be in line to scoop up to £1 million in compensation once a £3.6 million highway improvement project to make the project happen is finished.

A government spokesman said: “A second noise assessment of the scheme was undertaken using up-to-date data at the end of last year, with a report published in January, 2010, which predicted that once the project is completed, the impact of traffic noise levels due to the scheme in the area will not be perceptible in the long-term against the current volumes along this stretch of the A55.”

Saltney councillor Klaus Armstrong-Braun, who lives in Broughton, said people in the neighbouring Kinnerton Park and Chester Park estates would be able to apply for compensation from Flintshire Council.

Construction work is currently under way to build a new interchange with two more roundabouts on the A5104, either side of the A55, which will pave the way for the new development.

Work is expected to be completed later this year.

The Assembly government spokesman added: “Work is progressing well on the development at the Warren Hall interchange and we are hopeful that it will be open this autumn.

“Currently the contractor is importing fill material to construct the sliproad embankments which will eventually link the A5104 with the A55.”

Once finished the proposed 193-acre business park is expected to lead to the creation of about 7,000 jobs.