Highways Agency

Environmental statement - non-technical summary

Environmental Statement - Non-Technical Summary

The need for the scheme

The existing layout of the A3 at Thursley includes priority junctions at Dye House Road, French Lane, and Lea Coach Road; with off-side deceleration lanes and waiting gaps in the central reserve. There is also a gap in the central reserve providing a crossing point of the A3 for bridleway 115, this also serves as a private means of access to farm fields and residential properties on either side of the A3.

These junctions have a poor safety record with 32 personal injury accidents (including two fatalities) between 1995 and 2000 involving vehicles turning or crossing the A3. The accident risk is likely to rise with any increase in traffic flows.

Map of the scheme (1.8MB PDF)

Summary of the proposals

The existing junctions with the A3 at Dye House Road, French Lane, BW 115, and the associated central reserve gaps, including the access to Millhanger, would all be stopped up. A new two level crossing of the A3 would be provided comprising: a bridge located approximately 150m to the south of the existing Dye House Road junction, a one-way slip road to the bridge from the A3 southbound carriageway, a two-way link road connecting the bridge to Cosford Road and French Lane (which would provide access to Milhanger) and a two way link road connecting the bridge with properties accessed off BW 115 (south). This link then becomes a dedicated one-way slip road providing access to the A3 southbound carriageway.

The new bridge is located in the existing deep cutting, which would minimise its intrusion beyond the road corridor.

The right turn across the A3, out of the Lea Coach Road junction some 325m north of French Lane would be banned. Any vehicles wishing to make this movement would have to turn left, cross the A3 via the new overbridge and join the A3 northbound carriageway via an improved link from Dye House Road. Lengths of BW 115 either side of the A3 would be stopped-up, as would a length of BW 117 between Cosford Road and the A3, access to which would be maintained by via Cosford Road.

Providing safer turning and crossing movements for local residents, farm traffic and equestrians should reduce potential accidents on the A3.

Environmental effects

The study area lies within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on the edge of the Thursley, Hankely, and Frensham Commons sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), one of the largest remaining fragments of Surrey Heath, which is of international importance for nature conservation. The SSSI north of the A3 is designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), and parts of this area are also covered by other designations.

The potential environmental impact of this scheme has been thoroughly evaluated. The view below, taken from the NNR, shows the existing containment of the A3. Vehicles using the new bridge and associated slip roads would be more prominent in winter, affecting some views from the NNR.

Summary of environmental impact

Landscape and visual impact	Introducing a new bridge crossing, associated slip roads and side road diversions would have an adverse effect on local landscape quality, but the road corridor is contained. The impact would be mitigated through sensitive planting of native trees and shrubs and retaining areas of regenerating heathland where possible.
Noise and air quality	Noise levels at all houses within the study are below the 68 dB(A) trigger level for statutory protection, which should not change as a result of the scheme. There would be no effect on local air quality, which is anticipated to improve as a result of advancements in vehicle emissions technology
Ecology	0.29 hectares would be lost from the edge of the SSSI, but this does not include habitat of national or international importance. Some other areas of local importance for nature conservation would also be lost. Valuable topsoil would be stripped, stored and reused on new embankments and cuttings, where planting would be sympathetic to the regeneration of an open heathland habitat. Important areas to be retained would be fenced off and protected during the construction period. Detailed surveys have determined that mammal and reptile species would be affected. However, mitigation measures in advance of, and during scheme construction would ensure that they only suffer a slight adverse effect.
Impact on trees	The scheme passes through a heavily wooded area and consequently many trees would be affected by the development, with as many as 200 may need to be felled. However, extensive planting of new trees and shrubs should, in time, mitigate this impact. Where possible any views of the road that are opened up would be mitigated through careful planting. Great care would be taken to minimise impacts to wildlife resulting from the loss of trees.
Heritage	No features listed on the County Sites and Monuments record (SMR) would be physically affected by the scheme. However, the archaeological desk study concluded that a series of 'hollows' on either side of the A3 could be the remains of post-medieval ironstone quarries. Consequently their features would be recorded through a detailed site survey prior to construction, which would be presented to the County SMR.
Water Quality and Drainage	The additional area of carriageway would result in a slightly higher volume of surface water being discharged from the road, with a corresponding slight increase in quantities of contaminants. This slight increase would be fully accommodated by the drainage design, without increased risk of flooding. Reducing the risk of accidents, and therefore spillage, and introducing pollution control measures at drainage outfalls where none exist at present should result in an improvement to water quality.
Non-vehicle travellers	Pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians would be able to cross the A3 in safety, via the new bridge that would greatly enhance local right of way providing a valuable link between route networks on either side of the A3.
Disruption during construction	Following detailed design, construction would take some 12 months to complete, although this period may be extended to accommodate seasonal constraints associated with working in the proximity of protected fauna. Throughout construction, restrictions would be placed on the contractor to minimise disruption, reduce dust and noise prevent pollution of water features and protect areas of habitat that are to be retained.

Purpose of the environmental statement

The environmental statement describes the proposals, their main effects on the environment and the measures developed to mitigate any adverse environmental effects. Its purpose is to ensure that the public understands the proposals and is given the opportunity to express an opinion on them.

There are three parts to the environmental statement. Volume 1 describes the area and the proposed scheme in detail and summarises the environmental impacts and works proposed in mitigation. Volume 2, which presents the detailed results of various specialist surveys and studies, has been produced in two parts: Volume 2A covers Ecology and Nature Conservation and Volume 2B covers Landscape and Visual Impacts. The third part of the statement is this leaflet, the Non-Technical Summary.

The Environmental Statement is issued in accordance with EC directive 85/337/EEC (on the assessment of the effects of certain public projects on the environment), as amended by Directive 97/11/EC and as applied in England and Wales by Section 105 of the Highways Act 1990, as amended by the Highways (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999).

Statutory Procedures

The proposals for the scheme are contained in the following draft Orders published under the Highways Act 1980:

• The A3 trunk road (Thursley junction slip roads) Order 200*
• The A3 trunk road (Thursley junction side roads) Order 200*

A draft Compulsory Purchase Order for land required to construct the scheme will be published soon.

What happens next?

The publication of the Draft Orders marks the beginning of the statutory procedures for the A3 Thursley junction improvement. This allows the proposals to be publicly scrutinised, and for formal comments to be received in the form of support, objections, or other representations.

The last day on which comments can be registered against the draft Orders, or the Environmental Statement is the 23rd of November 2001.

If, at the end of this period, there remain unresolved objections to the scheme then a public inquiry into the Draft Orders may be held before an independent inspector appointed by the Lord Chancellor.

If a public inquiry is held then everyone who responded to the proposals will be notified of the date and venue at least six weeks beforehand. Formal notices will also be published in local newspapers.

Public Exhibition

A public exhibition will be held at which further details of the improvements will be on display, and representatives of the Highways Agency and their design consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff will be present to answer any questions. The exhibition will be held at:

Thursley Village Hall
Dye House Road
Thursley

Friday 19th October 2001 4pm - 9pm
Saturday 20th October 2001 10am-3pm

Please attend the exhibition if you have any queries

Inspection of the full environmental statement

The full environmental statement into these improvements can be inspected, free of charge, at any of the deposit points listed below during normal office hours. Copies of the draft Order plans will also be available for inspection.

Copies of the full environmental statement can be purchased from the Highways Agency at their Dorking office. The documents cost £25 for Volume 1 (comprising two documents, the A4 size report, and A3 size figures) and £12 each for Volumes 2A and 2B (each A4 size).

The price covers the cost of materials and printing only. Additional copies of this leaflet are available, free of charge, from the Highways Agency Dorking office.

Your comments

Any comments, whether by way of support, objection, or other representation, with regard to the draft Orders or the environmental statements should be made, in writing, to the Highways Agency and sent to their Dorking office.

Highways Agency
Federated house
London Road
Dorking
Surrey
RH4 1SZ

All comments must be received by23rd November 2001