LOCAL MP Virginia Bottomley is stepping up her campaign for ministerial approval and a construction timetable for the Hindhead tunnel.
On Wednesday, Mrs Bottomley was expected to put down a parliamentary question in parliament to Stephen Byers, the new Secretary of State for the new Transport, Local Government and the Regions. She said she would ask him to confirm the tunnel plans in the light of the announcement that plans for a Hastings bypass had been abandoned. The £107 million toll-free A3 tunnel was announced by John Prescott in March and approved by the SE England Regional Authority.
In May it was announced that work was expected to begin within seven years.
A spokesman for government department said this week that the Hasting decision was unrelated.
He said ministers were still considering the matter and "no date had yet been fixed".
But Mrs Bottomley told The Herald;:"It is essential in the light of the Hastings announcement that a timetable is established for Hindhead."
"It is a much more significant strategic route and remains the only pressure point between Portsmouth and London.
"I am extemely worried that there has been a radio silence since the March announcement on Hindhead and concerned there may be sinister forces at work," said Mrs Bottomley.
"Local people are becoming increasingly suspicious and I have today put down a parliamentary question to Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State for the new department of transport, local government and the regions."