People living near junctions 4 and 4a at Farnborough were bitterly disappointed when the government reneged on a pledge to provide funding, leaving work on the sound barriers half finished.

Hope for residents near Hawley was dashed last summer when the Highways Agency announced work to install sound barriers was limited to the western side at junction 4a.

But now pressure from residents, MP Gerald Howarth and Rushmoor Borough Council has paid off.

Last week transport minister Dr Stephen Ladyman met with Mr Howarth and funding was secured for the remaining section.

Long-suffering residents welcomed the decision and said it seemed that their nightmare was about to end.

Wasseem Yaqoob of North Close was delighted and said the barriers could not be put up soon enough.

He added: “The noise is getting worse. It starts at 3am and goes on until 1am. Not only that, you can’t get out in the garden in summer because it’s so noisy.”

Residents in Covey Close and Ratcliffe Road have also complained that the increased volume of traffic was blighting their lives.

Joyce Walton of Ratcliffe Road has campaigned since 1999 for sound barriers. She said traffic queued on the motorway in both directions during the rush hour.

“It affects your whole way of life. I work on the garden but I can’t sit out in it,” she added.

Mrs Walton was grateful to Mr Howarth for taking up the matter with the Department of Transport last November.

But she still had reservations about whether the barriers would be installed soon.

She said: “Fingers crossed it will go ahead. But we have been here before but it does sound more positive.”

Her neighbour Dennis Hoblin said he would believe the barriers would be installed when he saw it.

He said: “It’s essential. They should have done it years ago but they (the government) have not kept their promises.

“A few years ago they said they were going to do it and then the government gave the money for the M1.”

Mr Howarth is optimistic the project will go ahead although he said Dr Ladyman could not say when work was expected to start.

Mr Howarth and Surrey Heath MP Michael Gove had put pressure on the minister of transport to provide funding for the the barriers with sustained lobbying.

He said: “There has been a lot of misunderstanding around this matter for sometime but the fact he (Dr Ladyman) has personally told me is encouraging.

“I think it’s game, set and match. I hope this reassures people.”

Cllr Peter Moyle, leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, said : “All the efforts have been rewarded. I am so happy for all the residents who have wanted these for so many years with all the broken promises.”

Councillors at Tuesday’s borough council environment policy and review panel agreed to write to the Highways Agency urging for the completion of the work as soon as possible.

The project also incorporates completing a gap in crash barriers near to gardens backing on to Ratcliffe Road.

Marjorie and David Smith and many other residents have called for crash barriers to be put up to prevent cars invloved in accidents from crashing down the embankment into their gardens.

Mrs Smith said: “Crash barriers are more important than sound barriers. We hope they get on before there is another accident.”

Cllr Charlie Fraser-Fleming, who represents Mayfield ward on the borough council, clashed with the Tories last summer when it emerged funding for the work was confined to the western end.

He said he was pleased to see the end of a long and difficult battle.

“The people in Ratcliffe Road will, I’m sure, be grateful that this will be the last summer for sitting in the garden and not being able to hold a conversation,” he added.

Work near junction 4a has started and is due for completion by the end of March.

On Wednesday afternoon a spokesman for the Highways Agency said a final decision on the outcome of the bid was still awaited.

He added: “We are waiting for an official ministerial announcement to be made. The matter is with the minister (Dr Ladyman) now.”

But chief executive of Rushmoor Borough Council Andrew Lloyd said the Highways Agency had sent an email on Monday to confirm the funding to complete work had been granted.