TOO many cars but too few customers is just one problem facing Grayshott businesses with the introduction of the Hindhead A3 tunnel scheme.

The impact of the most important road scheme in the village's history was considered at a meeting of the Buy In Grayshott (BIG) group on Tuesday night in the Fox and Pelican pub.

East Hampshire district councillor for the area Ferris Cowper addressed the committee of local business people who are concerned about the ramifications of the tunnel project.

He told the group to form a "simple, coherent and unambiguous" message to send to the Highways Authority.

At the meeting Mr Cowper explained how Headley Road and Crossways Road could be used as a designated approach to the new A3.

This raised concerns from traders who believe the road is not suitable for a high volume of traffic.

Parish council chairman Barry Penny told The Herald recently that the situation would be "horrendous".

Kevin Kaighan for Kaighan and Daughters Butchers said: "If the traffic through the village is going to be this serious, are we going to be faced with double yellow lines everywhere?

"That would have a big impact on Grayshott because no one would be able to stop."

Traders also discussed the possibility of daytime traffic continuing to Portsmouth rather than stopping to shop in the village.

Local dentist Peter Hatch said the views of traders, who would be encouraging people to visit the village, may differ from those of residents.

He said: "There is going to be a confrontation between residents and the businesses of the village. They may not see eye to eye. I am a businessman and a resident so I don't really know which way to turn.

"But I think its right that we try to approach the Highways Authority with one voice."

Mr Cowper said the surrounding infrastructure of the tunnel needs "serious considerations" and suggested that some thought be given to the possibility of keeping the existing A3 open.

He said: "A lot of people support this idea and as far as I can see, the only people that don't are the National Trust."

In return for land known as Tyndalls Wood, The National Trust has asked for the A3 to be restored to its original environmental status. It is thought the project would not proceed if this exchange does not take place.

Mr Cowper said a previous meeting on the A3 at the village hall earlier this year had not proved helpful.

He said: "Mayhem broke out about halfway through the meeting and villagers were firing their points of view across about the tunnel.

"The officers at the meeting were fielding all these questions with something of a dead bat and everybody got terribly upset and annoyed."

Andrew Meehan said that the meeting, which was the agm of the Council of Protection for Rural England, had been hijacked by concerned local residents.

BIG chairman Dick Smith said the group should decide what it wants from the scheme before consulting the Highways Authority.

Members of the group decided to discuss the A3 tunnel project at its next meeting on January 29.

This will give the group time to form a response to the plans before a public meeting at Grayshott Village Hall on February 25 at 7 pm.

Mr Cowper said the public meeting will "address the needs of Grayshott and the immediate area".

He said: "I am working with parish council chairman Barry Penny to devise an efficient organisation for the meeting so that everyone can be heard and we can decide together the best way forward."