A3 HINDHEAD - PUBLIC VIEWING OF DRAFT ORDERS STARTS TODAY

24 Oct 2003 07:45 AM

Draft orders for the A3 Hindhead Tunnel scheme are officially published today, marking the start of an 11-week public viewing and commenting period.

People will have until 9 January 2004 to comment on the proposed plans, which include a tunnel under the Devil's Punch Bowl and a route that would take traffic out of Hindhead village.

The draft orders, which are issued on behalf of the Secretary of State, are the first step in the statutory process to legally provide for the road to be built. The orders are published together with the environmental statement, which outlines all the environmental issued linked to the scheme. The accompanying draft Compulsory Purchase Order will be published in November.

Highways Agency Project Team Leader Paul Arnold said:

"We have already incorporated many changes to the designs and made significant steps towards solving the congestion issues at the A3 /A287 crossroads in Hindhead. People still have the chance to comment and we'll be working with people to see if we can resolve any objections.

"Diverting the A3 out of Hindhead village would improve the quality of life for residents and reconnect the community. A proposed tunnel under the Devil's Punch Bowl would enhance and preserve an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"The proposed scheme is designed to complete a dual carriageway link between London and Portsmouth reducing travel times and helping to keep traffic flowing smoothly."

As part of the legal process, a public inquiry may be called if there are unresolved objections to the proposals.

Notes to Editors:
1. A newsletter outlining the scheme and the changes is being distributed to householders.

2. The following changes have been made based on comments received so far:

The Old A3
Following meetings with the National Trust, the proposed designs now completely integrate the old A3 into the landscape from the National Trust car park to the Youth Hostel at the end of the Old Portsmouth Road. The path over the Devil's Punch Bowl, which is the original Portsmouth Road, named 'Boat 500', would be downgraded to a bridleway and cycleway. This would close it to four-wheeled traffic and prevent use as a rat run. The Old A3 north of the Youth Hostel would be downgraded to a byway with access to a new Boundless Road Junction. The cycleway and bridleway would continue north of Boundless Way along the old A3.

Hammer Lane and Spaniard Lane Junctions
Hammer Lane is unchanged from the proposals in July with a single carriageway going under the dual carriageway of the new A3, connecting Hammer Lane to the existing A3 towards Hindhead. The significant change to the original plan is the northbound off-slip road to Hammer Lane Junction. This has been reinstated into the designs after residents pointed out that journeys would be much longer without it. It was found that traffic calming would discourage rat running.through Woolmer Hill, with any increases coming from local movements. The Eastern Service Road would be turned into a cul de sac to stop rat running and Knockhundred Lane turned into a one-way street towards Spaniard Junction.

Boundless Copse
As we announced in July, Boundless Road Junction is being relocated to Boundless Copse, where lowering the road and the use of bunds would reduce visual intrusion. Boundless Copse would link to a junction underneath the A3, with slip roads from the A3, linking to that junction. Additional changes include moving the junction 20 metres from Begley Farm entrance.

Headley Road and Portsmouth Road
Changes to the junction with Headley Road and Portsmouth Road include the introduction of a roundabout, to make it easier for motorists to turn right with ease, and reduce the likelihood of drivers using Crossways Road.

3. The draft orders can be viewed at:
- the Highways Agency, Major Projects (South), Federated House, London Rd, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SZ;
- Surrey County Council, County Hall, Penrhyn Rd, Kingston-upon- Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN;
- Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UJ;
- East Hampshire District Council, Penns Place, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4EX
- Waverley Borough Council, Information Centre, Council Offices, The Burys, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1HR;
- Waverley Borough Council, Haslemere Local Office, Lion Green, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 1JB;
- Grayshott Library, Small Village Hall, Headley Rd, Grayshott, Hampshire, GU26 6YZ;
- Sub Post Office, 6, Tilford Rd, Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6TD and - Sub Post Office, Beacon Hill Rd, Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6QL

4. The Highways Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport, which manages, maintains and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State. It works closely with other transport operators and with local authorities to integrate the trunk road network with the rest of England's roads and other forms of transport. More information is available at www.highways.gov.uk