M3 Motorway Bar End to Compton - TrustNews May 1990
As most members will be well aware, the Minister has decided in favour of the route to the east of St Catherine's Hill, favoured by the Department of Transport: this will involve a very large cutting through Twyford Down and a high level embankment across the meadows to Compton. The Trust has consistently supported a Tunnel and we continue to believe that the Department's route will be very much more damaging than most people realise. The Tunnel solution, evidently was very carefully considered by the Inspector at the last inquiry who, whilst supporting the Department's route mainly on the grounds of cost, stated in his Report that the Tunnel is the most acceptable solution environmentally.
It is not certain at the time of writing what will be the situation when members receive this Newsletter, i.e. whether the long debate is now over and the Minister's decision is accepted as final or whether there will be continuing attempts to reverse it. If the latter, it is important that members who have not made up their minds on this important and difficult issue should have every opportunity to do so.
We therefore print two articles written independently, the first by Dr Gillham explaining the reasons why the Trust has opposed the "cutting" solution and the second, a personal view by Gillian Bauer, a member who supports the "cutting".
We have also arranged for Mr Merrick Denton Thompson, a landscape architect and a prominent opponent of the "cutting" to give a talk to members on 4th June at the Milner Hall at 7.30 pm. This will enable members of all views or opinions to consider the position.