THE latest salvo in the relentless debate on the retention of the existing A3, once the Hindhead Tunnel is built, has been fired by the National Trust.

In a statement to The Herald, Diana Owen, the area manager for the NT, said that one of the main objectives of the tunnel is "to remove the existing stretch of the A3 through the Devil's Punch Bowl".

That, claims Dr Owen will "offer great opportunities to enhance enjoyment of this spectacular landscape and to benefit the local environment."

But she said the first aim of the NT was to "eliminate the ever-increasing traffic problems at the Hindhead junction."

She said: "The National Trust welcomes and supports the A3 Hindhead tunnel scheme on the basis that the scheme contains safeguards to minimise the potential damage it could do at either end, and to maximise its benefits.

"With these objectives in mind, the NT is working closely with the Highways Agency and its contractor Balfour Beatty to ensure that the environmental gains are realised and that benefits for residents and visitors to the Commons are achieved."

The statement continued: "The National Trust will be consulting further on future plans for access to the Devil's Punch Bowl and Hindhead Commons.

"I am convinced that the benefits of the tunnel and consequent reunification of the Hindhead Commons will outweigh the perceived negatives of the scheme now and in the long term said Dr Owen.

"And I am keen to work closely with parties to realise these benefits to everyone."

But this latest statement has been met with sceptism by Ferris Cowper, East Hampshire district councillor for Grayshott, and chairman of the new action group, STOAT, (Save The Old A3).

He claimed that the needs of the local residents "had been largely ignored by the authorities so far".

"STOAT is a pro-environment organisation, just as is the National Trust. Logically

we should be working together to get the maximum benefits from the tunnel project for everyone in the community."

But said Mr Cowper "out letter to the trust's regional directorate has met with dusty, bureaucratic replies and we end up with megaphone dialogue through the local press.

"Despite this we are still trying hard to open a line of communication with the trust and other environmental bodies, but thus far without success," claimed Mr Cowper.

He brands the NT arguments for closing the existing A3 around the Devil's Punch Bowl as "vague".

He declared that its argument for keeping the road open is more about "balancing 0.5 per cent of the landscape with 100 per cent of the environment of local Surrey and Hampshire villages."

He also takes issue with the current Highways Agency proposals supported by the NT which include a road around the Punch Bowl that follows the exact line of the current A3.

"Apart from pedestrians, this road will provide for horses, bike and guess what - cars and vans!" said Mr Cowper.

"There will be no difference in the ability to walk equally freely from Gibbet Hill to the bottom of the Punch Bowl in both proposals, nor to the opportunity for roadside picnics, and access to beauty spots such a Highercombe Edge will actually be enhanced in the STOAT proposals, as will disabled access to the commons," claimed Mr Cowper.

"The STOAT campaign is getting the voices of thousands of local residents heard at long last and support for this campaign is overwhelming.

"Now we have a voice, we would welcome the chance for a constructive dialogue with the National Trust so that maybe together we can develop a solution that benefits everyone," said Mr Cowper.