Draft orders for the A3 Hindhead Tunnel scheme are officially published now, marking the start of an 11-week public viewing and commenting period. People will have until 9 January 2004 to comment on the proposed plans, which include a tunnel under the Devil's Punch Bowl.

A bored tunnel will allow the Devil's Punchbowl SSSI and SPA currently bisected by the road to be reunited as a single site and is welcomed by local environmental groups. However, it will still have environmental implications at either end, with the tunnel portals affecting woodland and heathland (Boundless Copse and Tyndalls Wood).

The draft orders, which are issued on behalf of the Secretary of State, are the first step in the statutory process to legally provide for the road to be built. The orders are published together with the environmental statement, which outlines all the environmental issued linked to the scheme. The accompanying draft Compulsory Purchase Order will be published in November.

Highways Agency Project Team Leader Paul Arnold said:

"The proposed scheme is designed to complete a dual carriageway link between London and Portsmouth reducing travel times and helping to keep traffic flowing smoothly."

As part of the legal process, a public inquiry may be called if there are unresolved objections to the proposals.

The draft orders can be viewed at:

the Highways Agency, Major Projects (South), Federated House, London Rd, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SZ;

Surrey County Council, County Hall, Penrhyn Rd, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN;

Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UJ;

East Hampshire District Council, Penns Place, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4EX

Waverley Borough Council, Information Centre, Council Offices, The Burys, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1HR;

Waverley Borough Council, Haslemere Local Office, Lion Green, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 1JB;

Grayshott Library, Small Village Hall, Headley Rd, Grayshott, Hampshire, GU26 6YZ;

Sub Post Office, 6, Tilford Rd, Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6TD

Sub Post Office, Beacon Hill Rd, Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6QL

Haslemere Library, Haslemere, Surrey