The National Trust betrays Grayshott people

I was delighted to read in the Haslemere Herald (8th February 2008) about the rapid progress being made on the Hindhead bypass. I was equally interested in the Mayor of Waverley’s remarks about the driving force(s) and consensus underlying the building of this bypass, known for spin purposes as either ‘The Scheme’ or ‘the tunnel’.

Unfortunately, the Mayor did not complete his ‘equation of consensus’. He left out the fact that there were many vocal people in both Hindhead and across the Hampshire border in Grayshott who enthusiastically supported the building of a bypass but equally did not support the closure of the A3, their long standing and traditional access to and from the north. STOAT (Save the Old A3) a Grayshott led organisation headed this campaign and raised all the required funding from voluntary donations.

What the Mayor also over looked, was the fact that the National Trust would never agree to the bypass going under or over its land unless it was promised and gained absolute control over the use of the Old A3. This use would not include local traffic, even though the road and the land underlying it were bought by local people and then given, in trust to the National Trust. An Act of Parliament would have been needed to over turn this selfish position and the Government had neither the will nor the parliamentary time to invoke such a battle that would have permitted the purchase of the required National Trust land.

So, instead of being frank, open and honest with local people, the National Trust stood by and let them engage in the costly business of a Public Inquiry. At the same time, the Trust deliberately obscured its primary purpose by claiming that the road would be closed for environmental reasons. The Inspector at the Public Inquiry did not find these reasons convincing and indeed his body language indicated that he accepted the case for keeping the Old A3 open. However, in his written report he lamely concluded that closure of the Old A3 was justified because it would provide an uninterrupted view. Unfortunately this view will not be available to the disabled from the comfort, safety and convenience of their cars. I wonder what ‘forces’ drove the Inspector to this final conclusion?

However, from the Mayor’s remarks reported in the Herald it is evident that the issue of the future of the Old A3 was fixed by consensus long, long before the Public Inquiry ever opened. Local people, many in Grayshott wasted £50,000 employing a barrister on a case that now appears to have been lost from the start, not to mention the hundreds of wasted work hours spent by volunteers gathering data for the Inquiry. To pour salt into local wounds, I understand that the cash rich Trust was offered its costs incurred during the Inquiry. Local people received not a penny!

Paul Arnold of the Highways Agency’s Major Project Directorate is probably the only person to emerge with any honour from this shabby, disgraceful affair. In an unguarded remark made to a meeting in Liphook, he warned local people that the National Trust was driving the closure of the Old A3 and they would never yield. Otherwise this local road would remain open according to usual practice following the opening of a bypass. Look what happened at Liphook! But STOAT members thought the Public Inquiry would be an entirely objective forum.

There remains time for the National Trust to repent and repair the damage to its now tarnished reputation. This would reduce the unnecessary miles we in Grayshott, Hindhead and surrounding district must travel to go to and from the north and the unnecessary carbon dioxide and other green house gases that this will produce. Simultaneously, repentance and an open Old A3 would undoubtedly assist the regeneration of Hindhead. However, in this particular case, I suspect neither the National Trust nor the members of its supporting ‘consensus’ care not one tiny jot about the health of the wider environment.

Yours sincerely,


David W A Barrett

Hi David
Well written, and to the point.
I like what you say, and agree 100% with it.
As with all things, will the NT do the right thing.
WHAT is the point of destroying the Old A3 and then having to remake the other road a BOAT I think its called, that is there. So the point of making the Bowl a no traffic area is still not doable because of this BOAT that is there, and MUST be usable by all trffic, NOT just 4*4, i.e. pot holed to hell. (BOATS – Byways Open to All Traffic) 'so does this mean that if I were to go along a BOAT in my 1990 mini cooper that this road should be of a condition that i can use it, if not what , do I sue the NT?'
Please keep Old A3 open and see what happens, animals and people will still be able to cross as MOST of the traffic will use the Tunnel.
Same as the traffic calming in Grayshott, what the frag is all that about, LESS TRAFFIC COS OF THE TUNNEL.

Hi Jack.

I personally would like to see the old A3 closed to all "Through Traffic" for one simple reason, if it is left open to all it will be abused for one reason or another.

How can a road be 'abused for one reason or another' ? What do you mean that cars would use it instead of having to use the Tunnel ? Or when the tunnel is closed for what ever reason it would be used for the traffic of the closed tunnel?

Yes it should be left open for any emergency but should be "gated" and under the control of the emergency services.

AT THE VERY LEAST.

What I would like to see is access from Hindhead for cars to the "wide bend" on the road where perhaps the NT could construct a decent car park and view point for all including disabled plus a nice restaurant with a view over the Punchbowl. There is plenty of room.

Very nice but not in keeping with NT plans to RIP the lot up and let walkers walk from top to bottom. How nice. THE ROAD WAS THERE FIRST. before the NT and so should remain.
Re carpark and new restaurant. Whats up with Punch bowl pub ? And the Greasey spoons been updated, NO LORRIES, we are a cars only restaurant. Donot want that type here. I love the idea of a place with a view, A nice touch. Not to wasteful on resorces for a none rich company, trying to keep its head up. IF the NT were to leave the Old A3 open as a sign of good will, think how many MORE people they might get to JOIN the NT?

The existing NT car park in Hindhead is nearing capacity at times and it will not be long when an extension is needed. An alternative "down the hill" would be a pleasant alternative

No need if the roads gone, park anywhere on the road no need for a bigger car park then.

Always remember that leaving the old A3 open will encourage yet more traffic through Grayshott village with "rat runners"

This is one of them questions that whats blasting from the water.
Firstley I would think that 'rat running' is at its MOST NOW. All them 'Rats' know its a QUICKER route. With the Tunnel in place and ways of getting on to the A3 earlier, them 'RATS' would not be able to desert a sinking ship quicker. Its all to do with time and distance. And with all the traffic calming going in at Grayshott, and the drive to london then come back again to get onto the A3 for Grayshott users. I donot think that leaving the Old A3 open would cause MORE 'RATS' to join the sinking ship.
Second, Why would you want to? The A3 would be the fastest route, people only 'RAT' because of the QUE at the lights.
Third A3 would use less fuel and be quicker.
Fourth A3 would be quicker, have I said that one already?

Driving an extra couple of miles is not really issue, no worse than queuing at the dreaded
Hindhead traffic lights !

I thought NT wants to reduce Carbon footprining etc. Every person in the area to join the A3 from Grayshott doing a few more miles EACH day. Seems ass about face to me.

Without through traffic Hindhead can regenerate and be an asset to the area instead of an "eyesore"

No TRAFFIC, means shops will close. I know of 2 places looking to sell the land for flats/ homes, with a few shop fronts and or offices. I know the traffic at this moment means that shoping at Hindhead is very difficult, BUT no passing trade and Hindhead (from the lights to bowl area is ment) will close down even more. Pubs and restaurants might stay. Barons are fighting to keep OLD A3 open, so to are Drummonds. I would think most shops are fighting to keep it open. Nothing past the lights towards the Bowl will stay, not in the long run. I HOPE I'M WRONG. Hindheads been an 'eyesore' for years because 1 or 2 peole own half of it and are waiting for the BIG payoff.( again past the lights to the bowl)

You may say I am biased as I have been a NT member for many years. They mean well and on the whole get it right.

I know that the NT do a great job, I know that with out them Houses would be all over the south, BUT I personaly think they have it wrong, and on a whole they do get it right, this is just one of them times they have it WRONG. Leave the road open for a few years, see what happens, I know they donot have a crystal ball, if they did well who knows where the NT would be And yes they are trying to look after the Bowl, BUT if it was me I would havetold them to go to hell and back, why O why have they got the OLD A3, what right do they have. Other land was going to be given BUT no the NT wants to join the Bowl, Its never been joined sine the Pompy to London road was built in ummm the 1600's ???

These are my thoughts on this but i do hope that they donot offend the writter