THE finishing touches are being put to the inspector's report that will play a key role in determining whether or not the proposed A3 tunnel at Hindhead is given the go-ahead. However, its contents are to remain a secret until the transport secretary, Alistair Darling, has made his final decision.
The Herald has seen a copy of a letter sent to a Hindhead resident by the Planning Inspectorate revealing that the final touches are being put to the inspector's report. It also says that the inspectorate expects "to be in a position to send this report to the secretary of state for transport at the end of July".
The Herald understands that this is later than was planned, as originally it was hoped the report would have been sent off last month. However, the planning inspector who conducted the lengthy inquiry, Alan Gray, was on sick leave for a long period of time, delaying the report.
It is understood Mr Gray has now returned to work and that he is finishing off his report. However, those interested in knowing the contents of the report are to be disappointed. The report is to be kept confidential and not made public to anyone, including the Highways Agency, until a ruling has been made.
Meanwhile, confusion has reigned since an update over the A3 project was given at a meetong of Surrey County Council's local committee for Waverley last Friday.
Council highways officer Tracey Webb told the meeting that the government had indicated that it intended to fund the project after previously bumping it off the national priority list and deeming it to be only of regional importance. The news comes after the South East England Regional Authority last week insisted that improvements to the bottleneck be made before thousands of new homes were built on the south coast.
Ms Webb told the meeting she understood it would be considered in the 2006 round of spending.
Councillors and members of the public also heard that the Highways Agency was having to amend some of the details of the construction plans due to health and safety regulations. She said a new tunnel-boring machine was to be used, adding millions of pounds on to the project, the total cost of which is still unknown.
However, this week the Highways Agency has refuted this, but told The Herald it was unable to give any update on the project before the secretary of state makes a decision.