A PLANNING conference to investigate practical options to reduce congestion on the A3 at Hindhead will be held in the autumn, South West Surrey Conservatives have promised this week.
South West Surrey MP Virginia Bottomley organised an informal meeting with Shadow Transport Minister Bernard Jenkin which was also attended by Waverley councillors Bernard Foulkes and Susan Campany, chairman of Waverley's planning and environment committee, Hindhead councillor Peter Isherwood and Elizabeth Cartwright, leader of East Hampshire District Council.
Mr Foulkes said after the meeting: "This was the first step in a process which will culminate, this autumn, in a planning conference organised by Waverley Borough Council. The conference will involve local people and is designed to investigate practical options to reduce congestion on the A3 at Hindhead.
"A meeting has also been arranged in July with Steven Norris, who is experienced in road improvement projects, as a former Roads Minister and now as chairman of the Road Haulage Federation.
"We made a pledge to the people of Waverley in our manifesto that we would hold a planning conference and fight the introducing of road tolls. We are determined to work for a solution to the misery that this road causes local people and motorists passing through the borough."
At the meeting last week, Mr Jenkin reaffirmed the commitment he first made on a visit to Hindhead in April, at which he promised the A3 improvements would be in the top 20 transport projects of the next Conservative government.
"The Labour government spends only £5.6 billion on roads, a fraction of the £32 billion they take from the taxpayer. From every £20 spent on petrol, £17 goes to the Treasury."
Mrs Bottomley said that unlike the government's present Transport Minister, Mr Jenkin had actually visited Hindhead to see the problems for himself.
She added: "It was good of him to give us additional time and a further strong pledge of support."