A CAMPAIGN group aiming to keep the old A3 after the proposed tunnel is built has not given up hope of saving the road. Last week, the Haslemere Herald revealed how local MP Jeremy Hunt had met officials from The High-ways Agency to discuss the proposed timetable for work on the Hindhead tunnel. The tunnel has been in the pipeline for years and, when built, would cut out the problematic Hindhead traffic lights and see the current A3 returned to National Trust heathland. But despite the plan's good intentions for the area's wildlife, one group believes it would be better to keep the existing road for local traffic. Save the old A3 (STOAT) maintains that closing the road will increase journey time and pollution and will cause problems if there is an accident in the tunnel. Although the group planned to disband after the plans to build the tunnel and shut the road were approved, many members have not given up hope of changing the minds of those at Defra. Leading the campaign is Sir Derek Reffell, the group's chairman. Just before the timetable was revealed, Mr Reffell sent the Secretary of State a letter outlining STOAT's views on why the tunnel should stay open. It highlights what an inspector observed about the alternative plans at the A3 Hindhead public inquiry. He claimed the alternative plan - the one to keep the current A3 - would provide better value for money than the plan involving removing it. It was also pointed out that motorists would find it a greater benefit to keep the road open. In the letter, Mr Reffell recommended keeping the road for a trial period for emergencies. He says the road could be barred by gates so it could not be for everyday use, but in the event of an accident the road could be used as a diversion - a plan he believes would be "folly" to ignore. Mr Reffell said: "Experience of recent emergency closures of that road has demonstrated that severe congestion, approaching gridlock, results in Haslemere and on routes to Farnham from diverted traffic, with severe cost penalties. "It would be folly to destroy the only convenient existing diversion. If experience shows in, say, the first five years that the lack of such a diversion or convenient emergency access has caused unacceptable penalties, the situation can be rectified by reopening the old road. "Any other remedial action would be extremely costly. If, on the other hand, no such penalties have resulted, removal of the old road can take place." However, there will be some relief in the event of an accident. The tunnel will actually be made up of two tunnels, one northbound and one south bound, both dual carriageway. Should there be a crash in either, it will close and the other tunnel will become single carriageway in two directions, similar to the Dartford tunnel. The inspector did agree with the group that closing the current A3 would increase traffic and related carbon dioxide fumes, while the alternative plan would offer shorter travel distances. In his letter Mr Reffell added: "The alternative plan would not tax the residents and businesses of Hindhead and district by way of the enforced cost of the additional mileage when travelling to and from the north, and would reduce pollution. "This is an objective and policy that government has asked all of us in the UK to pursue with vigour." In his report, the inspector added that leaving the road in would only have a minimal effect on wildlife at the Devil's Punch Bowl and Hindhead Common, the land which flanks both sides of the road and which will be joined if the current A3 is converted to heath land. STOAT argues that while cars travelling on the road may have a slight effect on wildlife, only being able to use the tunnel would lengthen journeys and increase traffic, countering the benefits. l Trust looks to commons' future: page 7.