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I was heartened and to a small degree encouraged by the statement of intent made recently by the Director General of the National Trust, Ms. Fiona Reynolds (Haslemere Herald edition 22nd February 2008). She was quoted as saying, ‘Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we are facing today. At the National Trust we are looking at the impact of all of our activities (my emphasis) and how we can reduce this impact.’
Here at Hindhead this statement immediately begs the important question:- ‘Does this examination led by Ms. Reynolds include looking at the impact of the Trust’s determination to close the Old A3 in 2012?’ If so, will she accept that the Inspector leading Public Inquiry in 2004 did not challenge the opinion (given to this Inquiry) that closing the Old A3 will force local people to drive thousands of unnecessary miles every year when going about their business to and from the north. Moreover, these unnecessary miles will generate hundreds of tonnes of unnecessary carbon dioxide and other green house gases? Or will she let loose the Trust and government’s spin-doctors to obscure these conclusions? If so, will these spin-doctors try to convince us that while ‘global warming is one of the biggest challenges we are facing’ and we must reduce pollution it will be much more important to have a view over the Punch Bowl undivided by a useful, quiet local road in 2012? We must wait and see! Alternatively, paid up members of the Trust may wish to write to Ms. Reynolds and urge her to leave this local road open and become genuinely green.
However, I have the uneasy, feeling prompted by the deception, the undue influence and the spin demonstrated so far by the Trust over the closure of the Old A3. I suspect, that ‘hell will have to freeze over’ before the Trust will leave this old road open and allow Hindhead and Grayshott people to reduce their carbon footprints.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. David W A Barrett
