LOCAL MPs Virginia Bottomley and James Arbuthnot have demanded answers from the government over the delay of the proposed A3 tunnel at Hindhead. Speaking in the House of Commons Christmas Adjournment Debate, Virginia Bottomley lambasted the government on what she says is a party-politically driven decision to put the funding for the construction of the Hindhead A3 tunnel back until 2009. She and Mr Arbuthnot also criticised the manner in which the government made the announcement - by including it on a shopping list of schemes in the annexe of a national press release. As previously reported by The Herald, construction work for the tunnel, if approved, has been delayed by two years after the government deemed the scheme to be of only regional, and not national, importance. "The government has demonstrated such contempt for the South East and disregard for Members of Parliament that I am still trembling from the information I have received," Mrs Bottomley said. "In a press notice, the government announced a £1 billion boost for national strategic roads and their programme for the future. We learned that the A3 at Hindhead is to be taken out of the spending programme. "The details of the notice show how the government define whether a road is of predominantly national and international importance or of predominantly regional interest, but everyone in the Highways Agency says that that is purely a political decision. "I defy the minister to find a road scheme in the country for which there is a clearer need for new investment." Mrs Bottomley expressed her amazement that the A3 London to Portsmouth road had not been deemed of national importance. "Portsmouth is the second most popular passenger port," she said. "It is one of the key gateways to the European continent. "The area has the only traffic lights on that route between Gatwick, Heathrow and Portsmouth, but the government say that this is only of regional interest. "We only have to go there to see that no responsible highway authority could let those conditions continue when there is a real prospect of a solution. "The problem has gone on for too long and local people should wait no longer for a solution." The MP for South West Surrey was supported by NE Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot. "My right honourable friend has always made the case for the improvement at Hindhead with great passion and effect, but does she agree that this short-sighted decision, sneaked out in the annexe to a press release without any warning to her or me since or at the time, will affect the whole economy of the south of England, not just her constituency?" he said. "My constituents in Grayshott, which is nearby, raised £50,000 to get the road scheme right, and they are now kicked in the teeth." The pair have called for the advice given to the government over the A3 scheme to be made public. After the Commons session Mrs Bottomley added: "The recent decision, or rather non- decision, over the A3 tunnel is typical of the way that this government acts. They have shown neither due process nor proper courtesy dealing with this. "I have repeatedly stressed to the government in the utmost terms, supported by the MP for NE Hampshire, the importance of this tunnel to my constituents. "Many people depend on this road to commute. 2110 people per hour use the A3 at Hindhead during peak time. More must be done to accommodate their needs. "I have asked the minister to reveal the papers that he has received regarding the delay. The Highways Agency strongly believe that this should proceed. "There is no practical reason why this has been put back: as I mentioned in my debate, it is a purely political decision."