HIGHWAYS England is under renewed fire for failing to manage the traffic chaos caused by HGVs on surrounding country lanes during its “disproportionately frequent” pre-planned closures of the A3 Hindhead Tunnel.

Haslemere MP Jeremy Hunt has taken up the cudgels on behalf of residents of Thursley and Bowlhead Green, who have tried and failed to get the agency to respond to their concerns and improve the diversion signs.

Mr Hunt said: “I was disappointed to hear of the problems that occurred – yet again – on the narrow roads through Bowlhead Green and Thursley during the recent planned overnight closure of the Hindhead Tunnel.

“It really is time to sort this out so I have written to Highways England in support of the stakeholders’ request for a further meeting to discuss the problems. Residents have put up with this for too long – we need action.”

Thursley Parish Council chairman James Mendelssohn called on Mr Hunt to intervene after Highways England failed to respond to requests to attend a further meeting with Surrey County Council, the police and other interested parties on how to improve the “poor” traffic management, despite the closures being pre-planned.

“We are at our wits end,” Mr Mendelssohn said. “Whenever the tunnel is closed, the traffic management provided by Highways England is so poor drivers have no idea where to go, and we frequently end up with lorries trapped in different parts of the village.

“This now happens on a regular basis, largely because of the disproportionately frequent closure of the tunnel.

“Over the last few days, there have been a number of ‘planned’ tunnel closures and once again, the lack of appropriate signage has caused significant issues. On two separate nights last week, one of our councillors was to be found helping foreign juggernauts turn round in Bowlhead Green – once at 3.30 am.

“We believe there are some very simple, cost-effective solutions, but we just need to be able to talk to Highways England and ask them to face up to their responsibilities.”

Hindhead county councillor David Harmer said: “This is a big problem for Surrey County Council, whose roads are being damaged in Bowlhead Green. Traffic doesn’t get diverted in accordance with the agreement reached at the Hindhead Tunnel Public Inquiry. Highways England appear to be a law unto themselves.”

The Herald was unable to get a response from Highways England.