M3 Motorway - Trust Annual Report 1989
Despite the fact that the Public Inquiry came to an end in March 1988, at the time of writing the Inspector's Report has not been made public, nor has any pronouncement been made by the Secretary of State.
However, according to reports in the press, the Inspector's recommendation is in favour of the Department of Transport's preferred route which involves a massive cutting to the east of St. Catherine's Hill. However, this recommendation is on grounds of cost and the Inspector, apparently, states that the Tunnel scheme (proposed by the M3 Joint Action Group and the City Council) is feasible in engineering terms, is the best solution environmentally and enjoys the widest measure of public support. There seems little reason to doubt the accuracy of this press "leak" which indeed may be a calculated one designed to test public opinion.
All therefore now depends on a political decision and one can only hope that the Government, which of late has pronounced itself increasingly concerned with environmental issues, will back fair words with deeds.
The M3 Joint Action Group held a successful public meeting in June 1989 to discuss the issues raised by the press "leak". One of the results of this was the despatch of a letter to the Prime Minister from the Mayor of Winchester, signed also by prominent local figures including Sir Peter Ramsbotham as Vice President of the Preservation Trust, which in addition to urging for a decision in favour of a tunnel, pointed out that the Tunnel scheme is not inordinately expensive (other approved schemes are more expensive per mile) and suggested that as a matter of urgency a temporary flyover should be erected at the Hockley junction. This was recommended in the Inspector's report at an earlier Inquiry and would do much to relieve congestion on the existing Winchester by-pass.