News Release : 30 January 2001

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY TO ADVISE GOVERNMENT ON A3 HINDHEAD STUDY

The South East England Regional Assembly is to advise Government on the recently published report of the A3 Hindhead road-based study.

The proposed scheme for Hindhead involves the construction of a new dual carriageway, including a tunnel under Hindhead Common. The consultant's report, formally handed over to the Regional Assembly on 29 January, provides an analysis of whether the scheme should be considered a candidate for the introduction of road tolls.

The consultant's report concludes that the case for the scheme to be built without tolls has strengthened since it was considered at the time of the Roads Review in 1998. It also concludes that the case for introducing tolls is weak given the limitations of present technology.

However, the consultants recommend that the case for tolling should be reviewed once technology for free flow automatic (electronic) charging becomes available and only then in the context of a wider strategic approach to tolling.

The Regional Assembly's recommendation to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Regions and Transport on the A3 Hindhead study will be debated at the Assembly Plenary in February, when representatives from local authorities, economic, social and environmental organisations across the South East will have an opportunity to input their views.

Regional Assembly Planning Committee Chair Councillor Nick Skellett, and leader of Surrey County Council said:
"I am pleased that the consultants have published their findings. The A3 is a strategic piece of infrastructure within the region and the need to address the problems at Hindhead is widely accepted."

Cllr Skellett added: "Delivery of improvements in key transport infrastructure is an important element of the recently published Regional Planning Guidance and this study increases our understanding of how best to address the concerns at Hindhead."

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007