LOCAL people will be able to have their say on the proposed A3 Hindhead tunnel by the end of the summer.

A public exhibition and meeting will give residents the opportunity to look at the details of the £107 million tunnel project, construction of which is due to start in 2005 and 2006.

Completion of the tunnel is expected in 2009.

SW Surrey MP Virginia Bottomley welcomed the positive news after asking Transport Minister John Spellar for confirmation about the proposed tunnel.

She also asked that consultants be appointed as soon as possible and requested that all information be made available to residents "to reassure them".

In a letter to Mrs Bottomley, Mr Spellar said he shared her concerns that the project should proceed at the "earliest possible opportunity".

"The scheme is included in our ten-year plan of transport improvements and we are seeking to speed up the delivery of all those schemes in the targeted programme," Mr Spellar added in the letter.

He continued that consultants are expected to be appointed shortly by the Highways Agency for the scheme.

"As part of their plan to get the best value scheme, the agency is also proposing to involve a contractor at a much earlier stage in the design process," Mr Spellar said.

"This will minimise the time between successfully getting through the public inquiry process and the start of construction, and should produce overall time savings compared to conventional procurement.

"The Highways Agency plans to hold an exhibition and meeting in the area at the end of the summer to try to remind people of what the scheme entails and to discuss items of concern with the objective of trying to minimise potential objections."

Mrs Bottomley said this week: "It is encouraging to receive confirmation that the A3 Hindhead tunnel remains within the roads programme.

"Following the Hastings announcement there had been growing anxiety that Hindhead would be similarly abandoned. The minister's commitment to minimising delays and achieving time saving is welcome."

She added that she hoped residents would be reassured by the proposed exhibition.

"Increasing numbers of constituents have approached me with concern over planning blight," Mrs Bottomley continued.

"It is vital that information is shared with those most affected by this appalling traffic black-spot- the local residents."

Last month, Waverley announced plans for an innovative regeneration scheme for the Hindhead crossroad in two years' time.

The council will carry out a study of the area, looking at a number of options to revitalise the area, publishing their plans, holding public exhibitions and meetings, including a period of public consultation by autumn of next year.