GOOD news but we need it to be built as soon as possible, is the general reaction to last week's announcement of a proposed £107 million toll-free tunnel for the A3 at Hindhead.

The proposals, part of the government's 10-year plan for a modern and sustainable transport system, include a 1.7 km twin-bored tunnel beneath Hindhead Common as part of just over four miles of dual- carriageway improvements on the A3.

While many have welcomed the scheme, the need for a set timetable for the tunnel is urgent.

Chairman of the Hindhead Tunnel Association Joanna Migdal said Hindhead had been "blighted" with uncertainly after many years of waiting.

"The name of Hindhead has become synonymous with traffic jams and not the spectacularly scenic area that it is," she said.

"I believe this is a unique road project as the roadworks themselves will improve the countryside, so it is a truly environmentally friendly solution."

Haslemere Chamber of Trade and Commerce president Andrew Brownrigg had hopes that the scheme would help free up traffic in Haslemere and encourage shoppers to the town.

"It's fantastic news if it's going to proceed as published," he said.

"At least it's on the programme, it's probably the first time it's ever been officially on the agenda."

Acting chairman of Buy In Grayshott (BIG), Phil Bates, said traders in the village were pleased a decision had been made to solve the "unacceptable congestion" and knock-on effect it has on surrounding villages, such as Grayshott.

"There are many businesses in Grayshott that attract visitors from outside the immediate area and this is vital for the prosperity of the village and employment factors. I'm sure once there's a free-flow in the area it will help greatly," he said.

But Mr Bates was concerned about the problem getting worse before it gets better.

"One major concern regarding a project this big is that when work eventually begins, the extra bottleneck to the area this will have," he added.

"Hopefully some serious thought will go into this."

While welcoming the news, Grayshott Parish Council chairman Barry Penny spoke of his concern at the proposed start point of the scheme.

"From a personal point of view I'm concerned the southern junction will almost certainly mean traffic will inevitably go down Crossways Road, that is a C-class road and I don't think it's adequate for the amount of traffic it might have to handle," he said.

"But it's important that the tunnel is built; we can address that problem during the process."

Calling the proposal "a step forward", Hindhead resident and A3 campaigner Captain Jo Streatfeild-James said: "I'm very grateful for anything that's going to be done, but when?

"I would like to see a firm timetable set out."

Surrey County Council has said it's hoping to see early action by the government to get the statutory process in place so the tunnel can go forward as soon as possible.

But it is now waiting to hear whether measures will be developed to improve traffic on the A3 at Guildford.

Acting director for the environment Callum Findlay said: "Once the Hindhead tunnel is in place, the amount of traffic using the A3 is likely to increase.

"We sincerely hope the Highways Agency will respond to the county council's request to look at what measures can be taken to improve traffic flows on the A3 Guildford bypass.

"If this is not so, then we will be pushing the agency to address the Guildford issue as a matter of urgency."

Haslemere Liberal Democrats have also welcomed the proposals, but Haslemere town councillor and Liberal Democrat Mark Lelliott has raised concerns over statements from local Conservatives.

"By using words like 'we must look at all the alternatives' or 'we should press for interim improvements' has, in my view, meant they wanted to abandon the tunnel solution," Mr Lelliott said.

"Now that William Hague's Conservatives have refused to back the scheme by not promising to match the funding which John Prescott announced this week, further indicates to me the Conservatives would scrap the scheme if they got back into government."

ALARM bells may well be ringing in the future.

That was chairman of Hindhead Bypass Campaign Michael Nyman's reaction to the tunnel approval news last week.

"Ironic, isn't it, that the government has opted for the most expensive, least safe, least adaptable (to future needs) and most difficult to construct solution to Hindhead's traffic problem?

"There may, in some quarters, be ringing of bells now. At some future date there may be ringing of alarm bells and wringing of hands should a tunnel ever be built.

"What about soil from the tunnel? To be used to shore up sea defences? Apparently not. Instead, to be used to fill in National Trust land given to it, in good faith, to be preserved as given in perpetuity.

"The National 'disTrust' needs to start changing its statutes now. If Miss James's Walk and other adjacent areas are ruined by tunnel construction, then the disTrust no longer holds donated lands - as it claims - inalienably.Who will give them anything in the future? It's like giving a blanket to Kosovo that ends up in Kent.

"It's idiotic that, to ease present congestion at Hindhead, government and local authorities failed to move quickly to acquire the 40 acres of building/construction land that became available when The Happy Eater became derelict.

"All that, plus the pulling down of non-listed, shabby buildings, would offer a great opportunity to provide Hindhead with at least a short, cheap, long or short-term solution.

"Even if, rightly or wrongly, 68 new homes are to be built at Hindhead, this could also be the moment to open up land on the London side of the traffic lights.

"The construction of a roundabout or an up-and-over interchange could not be uglier than the present dereliction.

"Good, pleasant technical design at Hindhead (now that humans have landed on the moon) should not be impossible.

"Well, now, hands up all those looking forward to the absolute chaos in the entire area if and when the tunnel is under construction.

"Well clear of our area of outstanding natural beauty, a true bypass, would never be a solution we would have cause to rue."