Highways Agency

Way forward for the a3 hindhead scheme

Way forward for the A3 Hindhead scheme

On 28 March Ministers announced that the A3 Hindhead scheme had been added to the Targeted Programme of Improvements.

The scheme to be progressed is the preferred route announced in March 1993 and includes 1.7km long bored tunnels under Hindhead Common.

Come and see the present plans at an exhibition, details of which are on page 4.

Why the long delay?

After the Preferred Route Announcement in 1993 our consultants developed the design of the scheme and carried out a number of surveys and assessments to prepare draft Legal Orders and an Environmental Statement. Unfortunately in December 1995 work on the scheme was suspended due to lack of funds.

The need for the scheme was re-assessed as part of the Roads Review between 1997-98. The conclusion was that a study should be undertaken to see whether the economic and environmental benefits could be delivered in part by user charging.

That study took place in 2000 and was carried out by the consultants, MVA. The conclusion was that charging for using the tunnel would cause significant amounts of traffic to divert on to unsuitable alternative routes and therefore would not be economically viable.

Punch The South East of England Regional Assembly agreed with study findings and in February 2001 asked the Minister to include the scheme in the Targeted Programme of Improvements.

An executive summary of found on our website.

Benefits of the Proposed Scheme

• Bypasses the majority of the built up areas of Hindhead
• Removes the severance of the SSSI and National Trust land caused by the present A3
• Minimises impact on the Devil's Punch Bowl and Hindhead Common, leaving the SSSI (also an SPA)* undisturbed
• Provides segregation of local and through traffic

What are SSSIs and SPAs?

SSSIs are Site(s) of Special Scientific Interest. They represent our best sites for wildlife and geology. The sites are designated by the Government on the advice of English Nature, who are responsible for ensuring that the integrity and value of the flora and fauna of such sites are maintained and not damaged by development.

The principal reason for the being an SSSI is because it is a large tract of lowland heath containing a rich variety of flora and fauna.

An SPA is a Special Protection Area. This is a designation introduced by EU Directive 92/443/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds.

The Devil's Heaths Phase II SPA that also includes, Bramshott and Ludshott Commons SSSIs and Woolmer Forest SSSI.

The Devil's is regularly used by more than 1% of the nationally important GB population of the Dartford Warbler, a species listed in the Directive.

The Government has an international obligation to take steps to avoid any significant pollution, disturbance or deterioration of such areas.Development may only be allowed where there is no other alternative and it is imperative for reasons of overriding public interest.

What happens next?

We have appointed WS Atkins as our Design Agents for the scheme. They are a large, well respected firm of consultants with expertise in many fields including tunnelling. They will be developing the scheme on the plan opposite in more detail and discussing issues relating to the safety, operation and maintenance of the proposed tunnel with the emergency services and other interested bodies.

As part of our new working practices to help speed up the delivery of schemes we intend to appoint a contractor before we publish the necessary legal Orders to construct the scheme and an Environmental Statement. Normally we would wait until after a Public Inquiry and the confirmation of the draft Orders before starting to appoint a contractor. The new procedure of Early Contractor Involvement will enable us to:

• get better value for money by ensuring that the scheme is buildable in the most efficient manner; and
• publish an Environmental Statement that fully covers the chosen method of working.

Once the contractor has been appointed he will develop the scheme in sufficient detail to enable draft Orders and an Environmental Statement to be published. Experience suggests a Public Inquiry will be needed. If there is a favourable decision following the Inquiry then the contractor will be in a position to start work immediately unlike the traditional way of working.

Communications

We want to make progress on this scheme as fast as practicable and to ensure that, where possible we develop a scheme that is acceptable to most of those affected by the scheme, whether as residents of Hindhead, Grayshott and Haslemere areas, users of the road network and those whose concern is to protect the highly prized surrounding countryside.

As part of this process we have set up a Project Advisory Group (PAG) comprising of officers from County and District Councils, together with representatives of other key organisations representing environmental interests. This group has an objective;

"to assist in developing the tunnel scheme to minimise its impact on the built and highly prized natural environment and one that is broadly acceptable to the local community, while ensuring that all impacts have been addressed."

We have also set up a Wider Reference Group comprising of representatives from local Parish and Town Councils, local interest and action groups and local Councillors from the District and County Councils.

The objective of this group is similar to that of the PAG but it is expected it will bring a much more localised input to issues that need to be considered during the development of the scheme.

The Highways Agency sees these groups as a way of developing the scheme in partnership with the key stakeholders.

Exhibition

We are holding an exhibition to show the scheme as presently proposed.

This will also provide an opportunity for those with particular concerns to discuss them with representatives from the Highways Agency and their consultants WS Atkins.

The exhibition will be held at:

The Devil's Punchbowl Hotel London Road, Hindhead

on

Friday 7 September 3.00pm - 9.00pm and Sturday 8 September 10.00am - 4.00pm

Further Information

If you want to discuss or write to us about an issue please contact either:

Paul Arnold on 01306 878475
(Project Team Leader)

or

John Martin on 01306 878129
(Project Manager)

at

Highways Agency
OD (SE)
Room GA
Federated House
London Road
DORKING
Surrey RH4 1SZ

Or e-mail: hindhead@highways.gsi.gov.uk