TOWN MP Jeremy Hunt has agreed to become a “champion” for a Wrecclesham relief road in the wake of mum-of-two Amy Harris’s tragic death in Wrecclesham Hill last month.

Mr Hunt’s pledge to campaign for “the only long-term solution” to the village’s traffic woes came during a well-attended public meeting at St Peter’s School called by councillors following the death of 38-year-old pedestrian Mrs Harris on September 19.

Around a hundred residents attended and were vocal and engaged with their concerns and ideas, demanding urgent solutions to prevent another tragedy and reigniting calls for a relief road to divert traffic away from the village.

The meeting was also attended by Colin Kemp, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for highways, and marked the formation of a new residents association, Wrecclesham Village Voice, to campaign on issues such as road safety and planning.

Addressing residents at the meeting Mr Hunt said: “My perspective is that the situation we are in is not acceptable. If kids have to cross a dangerous road every day it is not acceptable. Make this a moment where things start to change.”

A resident reminded the meeting that the Hindhead Tunnel only came about because of the “tireless badgering” by the then-local MP Virginia Bottomley, and asked Mr Hunt directly “will you be our champion” for a relief road - to which the MP replied with a firm “yes”.

Mr Hunt later confessed that such a scheme would likely cost between £25 and £50 million and take between “five to 10 years to happen”, but declared: “We have to get a Wrecclesham relief road back on the agenda - that is the only long-term solution.”

He added the first step is to fully cost the project, and called for short-term measures to slow down traffic in Wrecclesham Hill in the meantime - including reducing the speed limit to 20 mph through the village.

Most accepted funding would prove the greatest challenge, and bids to the Local Enterprise Partnership, Highways England and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s new bypass fund were all mooted as possible solutions - as well as funding from developments such as Garden Style Nursery and the 3,000 homes-strong Bordon scheme.

Responding, Mr Kemp confessed “money is an issue” but said he had already discussed possible funding for a Wrecclesham bypass with the Transport Secretary, “who has gone away to find out whether there is money available”.

Mr Kemp also responded positively to an assertion by the meeting’s chairman Pat Frost that the A325 is the only escape route for A3 traffic when the Hindhead Tunnel is closed, and as such Highways England has a responsibility to help fund a relief road.

He vowed to bring Surrey’s plans for a Wrecclesham bypass “up to date” as well as the council’s speed and traffic data, echoing councillor Wyatt Ramsdale’s concerns over the accuracy of existing traffic figures for Wrecclesham.

On short-term measures, Mr Kemp confirmed Surrey will be cleaning verges to make footpaths wider in Wrecclesham Hill “in the next few weeks”, and asked residents for input on the location of a possible pedestrian crossing.

• The newly formed Wrecclesham Village Voice is appealing for volunteers to help undertake traffic studies, communication, leafleting and more.

Anyone interested is asked to email wreccle

shamvillagevoice@out

look.com or find the group on Facebook.