THE long-awaited public inquiry into the A3 proposals at Hindhead finally gets under way on Tuesday, bringing to a climax years of debate over the controversial project.

Arguments for and against the proposed tunnel scheme, as well as alternative proposals will be heard by the inspector, Alan Gray, and his assistant John Watson.

It is scheduled to last for six weeks but could go on for up to eight weeks if evidence given by key groups overruns.

The first week will be taken up by the Highways Agency promoting its tunnel plans as the best solution for alleviating the traffic bottleneck at Hindhead.

The second week will examine the consequences of the proposed tunnel scheme on local traffic with a number of residents' groups putting forwards their views.

During the third week, STOAT (Save The Old A Three) will put forward its case for retaining the existing A3 for local traffic to protect the interests of Grayshott which, it claims, will be grossly affected by the proximity of the southern exit of the proposed tunnel.

Week four will look at the cases put forward by a host of objectors including East Hampshire Cycling Forum, Headley Parish Council, Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council and Grayshott Parish Council, relating to the old A3, public rights of way and cycling.

The same themes continue into the fifth week after which the Ministry of Defence and the National Trust will have their say.

The sixth week will hear from other objectors including Amesbury School and The Royal School in Haslemere.

Once the inquiry has finished, the inspector will report his findings and give a recommendation to the Secretary of State, who has the final say over whether the Highways Agency's scheme should go ahead.

Local MP Virginia Bottomley described the long-awaited public inquiry as a "crucial moment" in shaping the future of the local area.

"The congestion, environmental pollution and rat-running through our villages have long been a major encumbrance," she said. "At last these matters are to be resolved.

"I call on local and national bodies to make clear and open submissions to the inquiry and to contribute to the debate in a constructive manner.

"Above all, once the inspector has reached his conclusions, I urge local and national bodies to rally behind his recommendations thus avoiding lengthy delay through ongoing disputes and enabling the fastest possible implementation. As the local MP, I shall vigorously press the Roads Minister, David Jamieson MP, to bring forward the commencement date."

She also praised the hard work of the Highways Agency and its officers in putting together a proposed A3 scheme.

"In particular, special thanks should go to Paul Arnold, the team leader of major projects in the South," she said.

"Despite numerous difficulties faced over the past decade, he has always gone out of his way to courteously offer assistance and advice to the frequently conflicting and passionately held views raised by my constituents."

With the A3 inquiry just days away, the main players have been making their final preparations.

The Highways Agency's project team leader, Paul Arnold, said that the inquiry brings to a conclusion years of hard work.

"The start of this inquiry marks a major milestone for the Hindhead scheme and the culmination of two years' hard work by the team," he said.

"It has been long awaited by the people of the area and will give an opportunity for people to present their arguments and views in the formal setting of a public inquiry before an independent inspector."

Also busy behind the scenes are representatives from STOAT who submitted the main part of its case this week and are ready to speak out and oppose the tunnel scheme.

"I'm very much looking forward to the inquiry as we've got an awful lot to say as the main objector," said the campaign chairman, Peter Hatch.

"This is really the conclusion to 18 months of work. We've been preparing this case ever since STOAT was formed in December, 2002."

The group's campaign has been aided by a £50,000 fighting fund, which Mr Hatch believed will be a significant boost when the group presents its case.

"The excellent legal advice we have been able to afford means that we have been given the best possible chance," he said. "Our case is very thorough and we are receiving excellent advice from our barrister.

"The main thing we will be putting across is demonstrating how widespread the opposition is to closing the old A3 and that 3,000 local people are right behind us."

The Hindhead Bypass Campaign (HBC) claims it is the organisation which welcomes the inquiry the most, having waited 16 years for its Outer Western Bypass scheme to be independently adjudicated.

HBC's chairman, Michael Nyman, said: "Only a bypass can respect the integrity of Hindhead, Grayshott, Beacon Hill and Headley by separating local traffic from through-traffic. It is a well-designed surface route which, if need be, can be easily expanded in the future."

Mr Nyman continued: " Thanks to its current advertising campaign and mass leaflet distribution, HBC is attracting a gratifying amount of support; not surprising, bearing in mind that the Highways Agency itself has published the HBC route.

"Moreover, HBC agrees with the Save Grayshott campaign which sees the entire village being blighted by the tunnel scheme. Lastly, with a true bypass in place, why close the existing A3 to local traffic? Who really wants a tunnel, with all its safety problems, being built for 24 hours a day, seven days a week for three years, minimum?" Mr Nyman asked.

• The public inquiry into the A3 Hindhead tunnel scheme will take place at the Branksome Initial Conference Centre in Haslemere starting on Tuesday at 10 am.