A VISIT to the site of the proposed A3 tunnel has sparked new pressure for the government to give the £320 million project the green light. The South East England Regional Transport Board met at the site on Friday of last week. Originally a decision on the scheme was expected in spring of this year, and now local MP Jeremy Hunt is asking the new transport secretary, Douglas Alexander, to say when the decision will be announced. The news comes at the same time as the South East England Regional Transport Board has said that an urgent funding decision is needed. "After years of delay we need government to respond quickly on this last obstacle to progress," said a board spokesman while visiting the congested area on Friday. The board is urging the government to approve the region's proposal for transport priorities sent in January this year. Hindhead is the region's top priority. The project aims to remove the bottleneck at the A3 and relieve the traffic chaos which has plagued Hindhead for decades. If given the go-ahead, work would be due to start as early as 2008/09. Nick Skellett, chairman of the regional transport board, said: "The region is committed to relieving this massive bottleneck, which causes environmental and economic problems. We have been waiting too long and need a green light from government now or it will jeopardise the scheme's start date. It is our first priority to get this on the road. This scheme is not only important for the South East but also for links to the Midlands and mainland Europe." Councillors hope removing the bottleneck at the A3 will reduce congestion in Surrey and improve access to south Hampshire ports. The A3 tunnel saga had raged for more than 20 years before being downgraded to a regional rather than national project. The scheme includes a new dual carriageway and a tunnel that will take the A3 under National Trust-owned beauty spot The Devil's Punch Bowl, which the trust says will have major environmental benefits by reducing noise and enhancing the area's wildlife habitats. The National Trust's South East director, Sue Saville, said: "The Hindhead Commons represent an exceptionally high-quality environment and a rare surviving example of this once extensive heathland. We believe that this scheme is a 'once-in-a- lifetime' opportunity to restore the landscape, improve access for the public's enjoyment and find a solution to the transport problems that have blighted the Hindhead area for decades." South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt asked residents back in January to write to the minister for roads to support the massive million-pound scheme. Mr Hunt said: "A decision is now long overdue on the A3 tunnel. "The Department of Transport seems to have a rather extended view of what spring is as transport minister Stephen Ladyman said it would be announced in the spring and we are now in June. "I have tabled an urgent parliamentary question to the new transport secretary Douglas Alexander asking him to say when the decision will be announced."
