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Reports from the Tunnel - Dawn Hoskins (15th May 2011 - 15:12:07) Volunteers manning the ‘Vision for Liphook’ tent were at the Bohunt ‘Park and Ride’ today raising awareness that opinions are being sought on all areas of the Village and its outlying parishes. Traffic on the A3 was abominable due to event and one group of people missed their ‘slot’ and did not arrive at Bohunt. So, three of us volunteers who had been unable to get tickets were able to join the walk through. Balfour Beatty laid on loads of staff and provided bottles of water etc. Also helping out were the St Johns Ambulance who were distributing water to those who required. There was a band playing and a choir to entertain walkers at the other end whilst they waited for their various busses back. The walk through was as expected, once you have seen the first few metres it is the same all along, however, information signs had been wall mounted stating when you were under the punch bowl etc – which lots of people were taking photos of for posterity. The most impressive areas were the ground works at the entrance and exit of the tunnel. A quite amazing amount of earth has been moved, trees uprooted and replanted etc. The bus ride back to the ‘Park and Ride’ involved driving through the tunnel itself which felt like quite a momentous event. Every one clapped and cheered as the bus went through. As we were not expecting to do the walk, none of us has cameras, but some people agreed to send in some photos, so I hope they remember. People from literally all over the world were at the event. Lots of people from all over the country, all visiting the village and taking away with them a positive impression of a ‘lovely place to live’. I know that the booking system was a cock up but the day itself proved to be a very positive one for Liphook itself.

Re: Reports from the Tunnel - liz (16th May 2011 - 08:31:35) I was very sorry to miss the walk through due to the ticket muddle but surely it doesn't go UNDER the punchbowl? Technically it does JUST - see www.highways.gov.uk/roads/...

Re: Reports from the Tunnel - Rob Jenkinson (16th May 2011 - 09:12:15) We would like to post a positive response to the tunnel walk through. We were in the lucky group to get tickets to the tunnel walk through our daughter is in a wheelchair and we were told to go St Edmunds to get picked up. When we arrived we were greeted by friendly staff and escorted to our Hoppa bus. We were taken to the entrance and given leaflets about the tunnel. The walk through was amazing and the feat of engineering is outstanding. Everyone that was there were smiling and enjoying themselves which made the day even more amazing. We had a nice stroll through the tunnel stopping to read the interesting facts on the way. When we came out of the tunnel we listened to the band and our bus was waiting for us and brought us back to St Edmonds. We had a great couple of hours and it was nice to be able to be involved with such a momentous event for our local area. We would like to thank Caroline White for her work, Balfour Beatty (I can see why companies don’t offer these sort of events with the backlash they receive when they can’t please everyone). The Hoppa bus company and all there staff who helped on the day. St Edmunds School for allowing the use of the car park. The day was so well organised and an enjoyable event. Thank you all involved. Rob Jenkinson and family

Re: Reports from the Tunnel - liz (16th May 2011 - 11:49:24) Rob I'm sure everyone (well, those interested anyway) would have been as happy as you if they had been able to get hold of a ticket!! Despite a longstanding interest in the project, pre-registering that interest sometime in advance and a genuine interest in the engineering I as was unable to get a ticket because I was too busy, on one particular day, to wait for their website to work. Many other people were in the same boat - hence the moaning - so perhaps you should not be too hard on us. It could have been much better planned and an even greater success - but I'm glad your family (and I'm sure many others) enjoyed their day.

Re: Reports from the Tunnel - Des (16th May 2011 - 12:15:40) It all sounded very well done in the end. Seems like the money was spent on the day and not the ticketing website. Thank you for describing the day and the tunnel itself, Dawn. Sadly, that's the closest we got to experiencing it ourselves due to the website inadequacies. Reading this report was a bit like listening to Wimbledon on the radio..just not the same. :o( Hoping to have more luck with my ticket application for the Women's Beach Volleyball at the Olympics, however....

Re: Reports from the Tunnel - Jane G (16th May 2011 - 16:31:25) It would be really good - for those of us who weren't there - if someone could post a few pictures on here...be good to see what it looked like on the 'inside'. Some pics here www.dailymail.co.uk/... and video here www.bbc.co.uk/news... and more pics here a3tunnel.blogspot.com

Re: Reports from the Tunnel - Robert Douglas (16th May 2011 - 17:17:21) All those people in hi-viz jackets. I think they're just attention-seeking.

Re: Reports from the Tunnel - Jay (17th May 2011 - 16:44:37) We did enjoy our visit and were fortunate to have been able to get tickets. I probably shouldn't say this, because it may make people more annoyed but ........ despite being told that we had to bring photographic ID evidence for adults and children alike, not one person either at the bus collection point or the tunnel entrance asked to see our tickets or ID and I'm sure it was the same for everyone else (unless you know otherwise). If I had an earlier "slot" I would have come back and posted on here so interested parties could try and go. As it was, I know that others were phoning friends and telling them to go along. We also heard of people who were invited in advance (by driver) to go along to St Edmunds and join in as "carers" . 4 carers for 1 person? Again, no challenge. Sadly, as ever, it appears it's who you know that counts.

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