TRACKSIDE residents have received support from the city council as a row over noise levels along the railway in North Oxford intensifies.

A campaign group living along the line between Oxford and Wolvercote has raised £8,000 to obtain 'crucial' noise data before the arrival of more trains.

The fundraising appeal will see an independent expert assess the impact to people’s homes before the frequency of passenger trains with East West Rail phase 2 and freight trains constructing HS2 increases from next year.

Network Rail carried out a noise assessment in December but monitored the effectiveness of the barriers and not the actual noise experienced by residents.

A second survey is set for the summer but residents said they had ‘no confidence or trust’ in Network Rail and have taken matter into their own hands.

Oxford City Council said it was aware of the campaign and made itself available if residents needed information or advice.

It added that it was still looking into a raft of conditions initially attached to the planning permission for the line - which included Silent Track rail dampers and more noise monitoring.

City council spokesman Tony Ecclestone said: "Oxford City Council is aware of the campaign that residents are mounting and would be pleased to provide them information about the Council’s role and actions in enforcing planning, environmental noise and vibration.

"The Network Rail noise assessment report was about meeting requirements under the Secretary of State for Transport’s planning permission for the Oxford to Bicester line upgrade “East West Rail Phase 1”.

"As a local planning authority the City Council’s role has been to make sure conditions under the permission are adhered to and the report into this is still being considered.

He added: "The City Council will continue to use its regulatory and advisory powers to protect any residents affected by unreasonable levels of noise."

Campaign organiser Patricia Grylls said the appeal had raised almost £8,000, which reflected the ‘strength of feeling’ among local residents.

She said the independent data would allow residents to fight for better protection if noise levels went up by too much in the future.

Network Rail failed to respond to a request for comment.