SOUTH West Surrey MP Virginia Bottomley this week sought assistance from the government in getting confirmation that the plans for the A3 at Hindhead were on target.
She said in the Commons: ÒLiberal Democrat scare mongering and rumour mongering are rife in the Hindhead area to the effect that the scheme has been abandoned. I do not believe that to be the case, but I urge on the House and the minister the importance of the Hindhead tunnel, not only for my constituents, but for the regeneration of Portsmouth, Southsea and, of course, that very important area, the Isle of Wight.
ÒI hope that the minister will take up these points and reply to me in due course before the House adjourns.Ó
Responding, the parliamentary secretary, Privy Council Office, Ben Bradshaw, said: ÒI shall be happy to obtain responses from ministers to those specific questions.Ó
Afterwards, Mrs Bottomley said: ÒI have clarified with the Highways Agency that these rumours are nothing more than that. I had a categorical assurance from them that nothing had changed and the plans were on target.
ÒMy constituents have an enormous interest in this scheme. I am therefore extremely concerned to hear of what amounts to little more than idle gossip being spread. I had no option but to raise this matter with the government in order to alleviate the worries of my constituents.Ó
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