GRAYSHOTT residents are voicing their concerns over the Highways Agency's plans for a junction as part of the A3 tunnel scheme at Hindhead.

This could move more traffic on to Crossways Road, which has already been subject to traffic calming investigations .

A roundabout planned for the south end of the tunnel was displayed at the exhibition at the Devil's Punchbowl Hotel.

Parish council chairman Barry Penny told The Herald that the situation created by the proposal is "potentially horrendous".

He said that the traffic calming plans, which could be installed later this year, have been designed to cope with the existing problems and not those that would be amplified by the plans for a A3 tunnel at Hindhead.

At a packed public meeting in the Haslemere Museum gallery, Highways Agency project team leader Paul Arnold said that he did not expect the tunnel scheme would have a great impact on Grayshott.

But residents, traders and councillors have been raising their concerns over the safety of the road as well as the impact the plan will have on business in the village's main commercial road.

Mr Penny said he has spoken to highways officers about the situation and has pleaded for careful consideration of the issue.

He said: "We have been looking into traffic calming on Crossways Road which includes signing and the possibility of lining on the road to make it look narrower to motorists.

"But these are measures that are being taken to deal with existing problems and not those that will be created by plans for the future."

He added: "Crossways Road is a class C road and not suitable for an increased level of traffic. What makes it worse is that the road has a very steep dip and is on a bend.

"I would hope that the people at the Highways Agency carefully consider this issue."

Managing director of Grayshott Pottery Phil Bates said he shares Mr Penny's concerns and believes the scheme will encourage more traffic along Crossways Road.

He pointed out that traders along Headley Road, the village's main commercial route, may suffer as a result of the plan. Mr Bates also queried what effect the junction will have on Grayshott's existing problem of rat-running along Whitmore Vale.

p The second meeting on tunnel plans is at Grayshott Village Hall on October 17 at 7-30 pm.