A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to build a relief road through the Surrey Hills area of outstanding natural beauty from the new Dunsfold Park settlement to Hambledon has been rejected.

The Guildford Society put forward the scheme to alleviate the impact on the A281 at Shalford of increased traffic from the site – allocated for 1,800 houses.

Dismissing the scheme, Surrey County Council deputy leader Colin Kemp said: “I believe the environmental and local impact would be too great. I don’t believe this could be delivered and it should not be pursued any further.

“Having said that, it has become clear to me that with all the planned developments around this area we need to look at the road network and identify pinch points and see if there are any local improvement schemes that would ease congestion. Then we can see if we can identify funding for these.”

Hambledon Parish Council had called for the scheme, which was proposed at the last local area committee meeting, to be dropped and South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt contacted Surrey on behalf of concerned residents.