The M3 Proposals - Trust Annual Report 1981
Outwardly there has been little progress with this problem during the last year, and the Trust shares with many a concern over the delay in implementation of the Inspector's recommendation to investigate and prepare new proposals for improving the A33 corridor south of Bar End in a way that is to be less damaging to the environment than the original M3 proposals. The Trust has welcomed the withdrawal of the M3 Line Order for this section as a demonstration of the Ministers' willingness to re-examine the problem with an open mind.
The delay has, in part, been caused by the replacement of the Road Construction Unit by independent consultants. The latter have yet to start their task of consultation with interested parties. In the meantime the Trust, represented by the M3 Joint Action Group, has been seeking common ground with other interested parties to hasten this process. In particular, useful discussions have been held with the Chambers of Commerce of both Winchester and Southampton, and these have led to some measure of agreement. All parties wish to see the 'connection between Popham and the M27 upgraded to an appropriate standard in the shortest possible time,' and recognise that this standard could be something less than a motorway.